Industrials chasing top three finish
Warragul Industrials moved a step closer to securing a top three finish and second chance with victory over fellow finals aspirant Ellinbank in trying conditions.
Despite a late charge from the Eagles in the final term, the Industrials had done enough work earlier to hold on and win by eight points, 4-9 (33) to 4-1 (25).
The win moved the Industrials 10 points clear of the fifth-placed Eagles. Level on points with reigning premier Catani, the challenge is still on for a top three berth for Dusties.
Ellinbank had their opportunities throughout the course of the day but struggled to score and capitalise on its forward entries for the most part of the match.
The match had been played in dark conditions with the lights turned on for the entire match, with persistent rain and strong wind also impacting on the match.
Shane Brewster looked as if he would master the windy conditions, with his early shot on goal drifting a long way from right to left to score the first major.
Ellinbank went forward twice and could only manage a minor score for its efforts, the Industrials then taking the ball the length of the field to threaten to open up an early break. Shane Ingham took the shot from directly in front but couldn’t allow for the wind as his shot drifted left.
Ingham marked on the lead but missed as the conditions quickly saw the game become a game of territory, long kicks along the wing and being forced out of bounds beginning to become a common theme.
Ellinbank went forward searching for Matthew Barrand on the lead, but he couldn’t quite pull in the diving mark.
The Eagles finally broke through late in the term, finding an opening to have a shot at goal with the Industrials defence failing to get a touch, reducing the margin to just two-points at quarter time.
Tyson Bale broke through early in the second term but found the ball difficult to collect. The match was becoming a constant battle for possession, punctuated by the odd intervention from the umpires for a free kick.
Another strong mark to Brewster set up another chance, but he stabbed at the ball to pull the shot to the left.
Tye Holland made a long kick from centre half forward, but the ball carried the distance and missed.
Holland kicked forward again to create a scramble, with Ingham able to soccer off the ground effectively for a goal.
Travis Ogden took the advantage from a holding the ball free kick that had been awarded to Jack Blakey to establish a handy 17-point buffer at the long break.
Conditions improved slightly for the third term as the teams took the field with no rain.
The Industrials were first to move forward but got caught holding the ball looking for options.
A missed shot and a snap that landed out on the full wasted opportunities to move further ahead. At the other end it was Ellinbank that took full advantage, with Tim Mashado converting a checkside for the only goal of the quarter.
Rain began to fall again to begin the fourth quarter and again it was the Industrials who created the first meaningful chance. In what was arguably the play of the day, Holland found space to set up Blakey, who outpointed his opponent to search for Ingham but he couldn’t quite gather and make the kick in the horrid conditions.
The Industrials recorded minor scores before breaking through from an Ellinbank kick in, Blakey finding Brewster on the lead for a goal.
Ellinbank began to get the game on its terms, converting a shot at goal to give brief hope. A goal from a set shot at the 17-minute mark further escalated hopes.
With little time on due to the conditions, neither side could press on for a score as the siren sounded at the 24-minute mark.
Holland, Bale, Brewster, Michael Ablett, Joel Morgan and Will Gibson were the better players for the Industrials.
Ben Wragg, Daniel Burke, Brett Masterson, Mark Vassett, Adam Cook and Thomas Robertson helped Ellinbank remain in the contest.