Defence leads way in win over Power
Warragul’s hopes of sneaking into the “five” are still flickering after its convincing win against Wonthaggi Power on Saturday.
The Gulls, led by a superb defence, took charge after quarter time to score 10-13 to 3-5.
Warragul handled the slippery Western Park surface much better and dominated general play.
At quarter time it led by just one goal, 2-2 to 1-2, but conceded Wonthaggi only one behind in the second and third terms.
By half time the Gulls had forged 23 points ahead and started the final term with a 42point lead. To that stage Power had scored only 1-3. Some positional changes over the past two weeks have paid dividends for Warragul.
Nic Stevenson and Tom Kelly have added some spark across the centre and half forward lines and both hit the scoreboard on Saturday in an added bonus.
But it was the defence that really set up the game with its miserly approach, good teamwork and system.
Matt Rennie was excellent alongside vicecaptain Sam Russell whose return from injury several weeks ago had added steel, and Jake Hughes, James Davidson, Brad Hefford, Jack Deen and Ash Di Ciero.
Also pleasing for the Gulls and its prospects for the rest of the year was that they kept the foot on the pedal after getting the upper hand in the contest by half time.
That came about through all 22 players making contributions.
Thirds’ player Sam Fennell in only his second senior game and Rowan Lawson-Pepper, promoted from the reserves for Saturday, have also added some leg speed to the side.
Tom Muir was among Warragul’s top players as he finds his best form after his long-awaited return from injury enforced absence from the game.
Kim Drew and Nate Paredes were again solid workers around the ground and key contributors to the team effort.
Conditions weren’t made to order for the forwards but they did their jobs, too, with Luke Di Ciero and Brayden Fowler each finishing the day with more than handy contributions of three goals.
Kelly kicked two and Paredes and Stevenson one each.
Warragul sits one game outside the “five” but have a far inferior percentage to the fifth side Traralgon.
The Gulls have kicked off the second half of the season with two wins, a confidence boost and more settled line-up as the injury list has dwindled.
But to push further up the ladder they will need to claim the scalps of a couple of sides above them on the table and avoid dropping games against those below it.
Next Saturday will be the first of a number of big tests ahead.
A win against fourth placed Moe at Moe would be another step on its way to challenging for a spot in the finals.