Gulls swooped by magnificent Magpies
With finals just around the corner, this is about the time that a team should be hitting peak form, making sure that they're as well-drilled and tuned up as possible.
Unfortunately for Warragul, they ran into one such team over the weekend in the form of Sale.
And, equally unfortunately for the Gulls, their opponents were in a totally ruthless mood, putting them to the sword early and piling on the pain late to hand Warragul an 8.7 (55) to 25.12 (162) defeat. It was the side's largest loss of the season.
The Magpies, having come into the match off the back of four straight thumping wins, were merciless around the ball, using their sheer size and strength to repeatedly put the Gulls on the back foot.
Former Gold Coast defender Jack Leslie was their standout, playing through the ruck and up forward. He used his hulking stature to great effect, booting five goals and monstering the hit outs, despite some great efforts from Warragul ruckman Sam Whibley.
With Leslie tapping the ball well in the middle, Jack Mclaren, Cooper Whitehill and Patrick Tainsh all continued their strong respective seasons as the Magpies won the contested ball battle on the inside, and used the ball to great effect on the outside.
The warning signs were ominous early, as the Magpies piled on seven goals in the first term to take a strong early lead. The Gulls managed three of their own, thanks in large part to the efforts of Jed Lamb, but it was clear from the outset they would be fighting an uphill battle for much of the day.
Lamb would end the day with six goals to be his team's best player, but that in and of itself does point to one of Warragul's main issues throughout the season. Lamb has been an excellent acquisition for a club crying out for a genuine goalkicker, kicking a whopping 63 goals in his 16 games, and his knowledge of the game thanks to his time in the AFL would be of great benefit to a lot of his younger teammates.
But, once again, he was the only Warragul forward that threatened the scoreboard for much of the day, kicking all but two of Warragul's goals. And this is far from the first time this has been the story of a Warragul game.
If the Gulls are to improve next year, they simply must find other avenues to goal, if only to help Lamb out. He's a brilliant player, and will very likely win the league goalkicking award. But one player does not a forward line make.
Things didn't get easier for the Gulls after quarter time. Despite some solid efforts down back from star interceptor Sean Masterson and promising youngster Tully Loomes, the half time margin blew out to 54 points.
The aforementioned Leslie wasn't the only threat to the Warragul defenders though, as Sale spearhead Brad Dessent was also having things his way in the Magpies' forward half. He would finish the game with six goals, his second best haul of the season thus far.
After half time, there was a sense of a renewed effort and purpose for the Warragul players, as on-ballers Mitch Nobelius and Brad Hefford found more of the ball than they had earlier and began to deprive Sale of the easy opportunities they had created in the first half. It meant that the Gulls managed three goals to Sale's four for the term, leaving the margin still sizeable but not as bad as it had appeared it was going to be at three quarter time.
This would be short-lived, however, as the tiring Warragul relented their solid pressure from the third quarter. And, from there, the flood gates opened.
Sale could do no wrong in the final term, leaving the Warragul defenders helpless as they watched goal after goal soar through the big sticks.
In the end, the margin passed the 100-point barrier, undoubtedly a disappointing finish to the game for the home side whose season has somewhat come undone in the final few weeks.
The calibre of their opponents has been brutal in recent weeks, to be fair. But, outside of their derby win against Drouin, their results going back to round 11 have been losses by 101, 61, 81, 63 and now 107 points.
They now have two games remaining, against Maffra and Bairnsdale, to end their season strongly and try to build a base for next season. They won't be going into the game against Maffra as favourites, but the final round showdown with Bairnsdale will be a golden opportunity.
Sale, meanwhile, are in some ominous form with finals fast approaching. They remain in second place and have now boosted their once indifferent percentage considerably. The Magpies will next face fellow contender Traralgon at home in what looms to be a blockbuster match that could very well decide both teams' fates come finals.
For Warragul now though, contending is a dream that will have to be worked towards in years to come. With a solid crop of young players coming through their thirds and fourths, fans will just have to wait and see if they can do it.