Little things costly for Gulls
The little things – some poorly executed kicks and handballs and a missed tackles – were Warragul’s undoing in its important clash with Moe at Moe on Saturday.
Moe ran away at the finish to win 17-13 to 11-12 after the Gulls had got within one point during the third quarter.
The last two goals for the third term got the Lions back on track and out to a 14-point lead at the final break.
They were then well on top in the final quarter adding 5-6 to 2-1 as, for the second week in a row, Warragul dropped off.
Many of Moe’s goals came directly from errors by the Gulls.
A number of good chances to goal by Warragul were missed in a first quarter that was close to even, except on the scoreboard that showed the Lions ahead 4-4 to 1-6.
They took the lead out to 27 points by half time before Warragul came back strongly.
The Gulls kicked six goals in the third term, Moe’s two late goals enabling it to get 14 points up heading into the final quarter.
The Lions weren’t going to let slip a chance to consolidate in the “five”.
But the stakes were high for Warragul, too.
A win would have had it within two points of 5th place on the ladder.
Matt Rennie’s status as a key backman for Warragul continues to rise.
He took 15 marks for the game, many in contested situations, and was the cornerstone of the defence where Ashley Di Ciero put in another good game.
On-baller Nathan Paredes racked up 35 possessions, Nic Mulqueen continued in good form, Ambu Uliando was in plenty of action and Brad Scalzo was busy as always.
In attack the way was led by captain Brayden Fowler and Under 18 player Jedd Serong, who has slotted seamlessly into the senior team and has been a revelation since being promoted.
He and Fowler each got three goals on Saturday.
Moe’s quality around the middle of the ground was a big factor in its win, Col Sanbrook heading that contingent.
The Gulls’ line-up has been unsettled throughout the year with multiple changes from week to week, mainly due to injury.
There were another five changes from the previous week, three of them forced.
The side had four Under 18 players, Matthew Hobbs in his first senior game joining Will Cole, Angus Emery and Serong, and another first gamer in Rowan Lawson-Pepper after three games in the reserves.
Defender Nic Stevenson is hoped to return next weekend for the all-important clash with Morwell.
The next fortnight could go a long way to determining the Gulls’ finals chances, 5th placed Morwell to be followed by Bairnsdale (6th).