Depleted Dusties dominate Giants
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Warragul Industrials are on the board for season 2024 following a thumping home win over Korumburra Bena.
The Dusties did it easy for most of the day, at one point kicking 11 unanswered goals to propel them to a 23.9 (147) to 7.5 (47) win.
Much has been made of the heavily depleted side the Dusties have been forced to field, relying on a number of their younger brigade for numbers. Against the likes of Phillip Island and Inverloch-Kongwak in previous weeks it's made them vulnerable.
But their lack of experience mattered little against the Giants, the Dusties looking the much more assured team from the first bounce.
Outside of a nervy period in the first term it was a consistent Dusties showcase, the home side putting on between five and seven goals in each quarter to claim their first victory under new coach Michael Duncan.
Matthew Herbert was the home side's standout as he ran riot through the middle and snuck up forward for three majors.
Veteran Luke Walker's class was abundant in the forward half, his kicking inside 50 exemplary as he bagged four goals and set up numerous others. His final goal of the day was particularly exceptional, a gorgeous drop punt from the boundary line on the wrong side for a left footer that showed every bit of his class.
Youngster Regan Awty was highly influential in his second senior match, while recruit Lachlan Bambridge enjoyed a day out with five goals, three of which came in the opening quarter.
Warragul Industrials enjoyed a strong advantage in the clearance battle, consistently winning the ball at the source and running the Giants off their feet.
The visitors showed some fight early, kicking three straight goal to lead proceedings midway through the first.
Walker and Kyle Beveridge both got on the end of long leads to work the Dusties back to an even keel.
Then, three quickfire goals to Bambridge – the first a snap in open play, the second from a mark in the goal square after some wonderful body work and the third a long bomb from 50 metres – quickly gave the Dusties a buffer that they never gave up.
Herbert kicked the opening goal of the second term on the run to increase the Dusties lead and seemingly have his side running away with the game.
But two quickfire Giants goals – the second one a rather silly one after Dusties ruck Mark Bradley gave away a free kick and then a 50-metre penalty for dissent – kept the visitors' hopes alive.
However, that would be the last goal they would kick until midway through the final quarter. By that point Warragul Industrials had put on 11 more of their own to blow the game out of the water and break Korumburra Bena's spirits.
Some late pushing and shoving following a free kick to Dusties youngster Jed Pinkerton would prove to be the most spark the match had in the second half as the home side romped to a comfortable triple digit win.
Korumburra Bena playing coach Josh Hopkins never gave in from the backline, while Joel Cuman, Kye Benson and Paul Fermanis were all among the Giants' best.
It's an important win for the Dusties, given the youth they've had to field and the losses they've copped from the league's best as a result.
They fielded two more senior debutants against the Giants, those being Ethan Nalder and Josh Bradley – who joined his father Mark in the senior team for the first time.
Mark Bradley's local footy resume is about as long as they come and getting to play alongside his son, in senior footy no less, is yet another feather in his cap.
Warragul Industrials coach Michael Duncan was thrilled with his side's efforts.
"It's been a long few weeks with injuries and other things that we've been working through. Even today we were supposed to have Sam Russell play up until the last minute before he pulled out," Duncan said.
"To come out and play like that after the disruptions has been awesome."
Duncan was especially full of praise for the consistency his side showed across four quarters.
"We don't want to be that burst team that challenges for five minutes and then goes missing, we want to play really solid footy for four quarters. Unfortunately we haven't bee able to do that the past few weeks against really good sides but we were solid all game today."
It's now a short break for the Dusties before they play away from home on Thursday against Tooradin-Dalmore in their traditional Anzac game.
The Seagulls will be stinging after a shock loss to Kilcunda Bass and the game should tell us more about just where both sides sit early in the year.