Industrials power away from Crows
Longwarry showed some early fight, but ultimately couldn’t match it with a strong Warragul Industrials side who were able to record a big win 20-16 (136) to 6-4 (40).
Coming off a fourth-round loss to Ellinbank, the Industrials were looking to bounce back and keep in touch with the Eagles and Neerim-Neerim South at the top end of the ladder.
They did so in emphatic style, holding their opposition to 1-1 in the second half while slamming through 10 goals themselves to record a big victory.
A good contest was looked promising early, with the Crows matching it with the Industrials in the first quarter to trail by just seven points at the first break.
But it went downhill for the Crows from there, with the Industrials adding six goals in the second term to increase their lead to 34-points before going on with it in the second half.
The Industrials quickly had the first goal on the board, but a tight tussle then ensued.
The Crows hit back with a goal of their own from a switch at half forward. The Crows went forward again and while a diving mark couldn’t be held, the Crows converted with a snap from the boundary throw in to hit the front.
The Industrials went forward on occasion but couldn’t capitalise, with Ken Towt effective in spoiling to allow the Crows to clear.
The Crows went long again, with the ball carrying over the back but the opportunity went begging on this occasion as Ahmet Zijai missed from a snap.
Will Jolley found the ball in space to convert for the Industrials and close the gap.
Joel Crowther showed some good form and proved he would be a handy addition to the side, finishing with three goals. His first came from a clever kick from the outside of the boot to put the Industrials back in front. The Industrials would not relinquish the lead from that point.
A centre clearance set up Damien Mullen to put Dusties further ahead.
Not done with the Crows went forward, with Towt and Dom Pullen handling but the Crows couldn’t finish off, spraying it out on the full.
Dusties went forward with Crowther outmuscling his opponent, but his shot on goal missed. The Dusties broke from the middle, Nickels taking a running shot after completing a mark but his shot also missed.
A long goal for Longwarry closed the margin to seven points and promised an enthralling contest.
But the Industrials took control from there. The break of a tackle on the wing set up their fifth major.
Nickels took a strong mark to hit Crowther on the lead, but his shot missed. Joel Paredes went long, but his shot missed also as the Crows were being let of the hook early in the second term.
The Crows found Paul Williams in space, who turned and snapped a goal to pull one back against the run of play.
Shane Brewster broke through into space to convert a run of three consecutive goals for the home side. Paredes took full benefit of a spilled chance from Nickels, before Crowther converted from another strong mark following good lead up work from Michael Ablett and Josh Peterson.
The Crows hit Nathan Fry on the lead, who converted as the Crows pulled the lead in again.
The Dusties again responded with a run of goals, finding Josh Seri in space for a long goal to start another scoring chain.
Lead up work from Peterson and Ben Northover saw Tye Holland on the end of a handpass to score a running goal and extend the half time lead to 34 points.
The Industrials set the tone for a dominant half early in the third term, with Josh O’Brien marking on the lead from a Tyson Bale clearance. A carbon copy play almost followed, only for O’Brien to miss the shot.
Nickels leaped high to mark at centre half forward, with Brewster, Mullen and Tye Holland all working to set up another goal from directly in front.
Seri found space to add another, while a Tye Holland clearance found John Ikupu for his first goal. Paredes was thought to be too far out at centre half forward but his shot cleared the line to cap a dominant third term for the home side.
A long goal to Cole Cook was the only solace for the Crows as the home side pushed the margin out to 63-points at the final change.
Further pain came in the final quarter, the Crows only managing one behind while the Industrials added five goals.
Nickels kicked the first following good lead up from Ablett and Mullen. Peterson set up the next attack from half back, finding Nickels who went long to find O’Brien to convert following a good high mark.
Nickels led and passed to O’Brien for another, Peterson then found Ikupu on a lead to set up the 19th and the Industrials weren’t quite done, running through a late goal to push the final margin out to 96-points.