Undermanned Dusties hold off gallant Stars
by
An undermanned Warragul Industrials scored a vital win over the weekend as they kept in touch with the top six.
Playing against local rivals Garfield, it was a decidedly more youthful Dusties side taking the field, with a number of senior veterans out.
Shane Brewster, Luke Walker and Kane Oldham were just some of the names missing from the team, some of whom were over kicking goals in Bali.
And while it took them the better part of four quarters to shake off the young Stars – and some of their own goalkicking - in the end the Dusties got the job done 11.21 (87) to 7.12 (54).
Standing up through the middle for Warragul Industrials were Bailey Beck and Will Gibson, while Adrian De Sando's drive off half back proved invaluable.
Crafty small forward Mason McGarrity continually proved to be the team's most likely target up forward with five goals, though some inaccuracy stopped him from having the perfect day.
Garfield showed plenty of heart in their efforts, and at various times looked primed to steal the match, but faded out in the final term as they couldn't get the ball forward.
Jett Pickering was strong for the Stars, as was Jack Barnes and ruckman Cooper Reilly.
The opening quarter was all going the Dusties' way, however.
They ran the ball strongly, often looking to play on or give the ball to a passing teammate at every opportunity.
While they dominated territory, racking up inside 50s, they didn't quite get the reward for it.
Two goals to Travis Ogden and one to McGarrity had them up by 17 points at the first change, but with seven behinds also to their name.
Coach Harmit Singh was comfortable during his quarter time address, but wouldn't have been for long after.
The Stars came back at the Dusties at the beginning of the second, and they came back hard.
Garfield won the first centre clearance of the quarter, allowing Zac Soutar to run in a goal.
Soutar wasn't finished either, winning the ball in the middle and bombing a goal from 50m, his second in a minute.
Warragul Industrials steadied thanks to some class from McGarrity out the back, but the match had turned into a real contest.
The Stars held their space well, blocking the paths that the Dusties had run through so effectively in the first.
The rest of the second and the third went blow for blow, both teams threatening to run away with the match.
A highlight for the crowd was a goal to young debutant Thomas Cornwall in the third, after a Stars turnover at half back ended with McGarrity handballing to him in the goal square to rapturous applause.
By three quarter time the margin stood at just three points the Dusties' way, as inaccuracy continued to plague both sides.
McGarrity pressed the advantage out further early in the fourth with a truly stunning soccer kick from the boundary line that curled through.
Garfield defender Joel Batson desperately pleaded with the umpires that he had touched the ball, but it was to no avail.
From there the rest of the match became one-way traffic, as Gibson and Beck ensured the ball kept going the home side's way.
They still couldn't quite finish their work, kicking 4.8, but with the Stars unable to win the footy it was pretty clear which way the match was going.
Eventually the final siren sounded moments after Kyle Staples dragged down an impressive mark 15m out from goal, his major after the siren leaving the Dusties faithful happy.
Now up to seventh, Warragul Industrials are now pressing their case for the top six.
They remain one win behind Dalyston, though with a better percentage. If any side is likely to make way for them, it's looking like the Magpies.
Next week will be a big one for the club, as they face eighth-placed Kilcunda Bass. Win that and they could be back in the six as soon as next week.
Garfield will be ruing what was a missed opportunity.
Though improved, this game was a chance for them to knock off an undermanned side. Their second and third terms were positives strides forward, and will likely be shown on repeat at training.
Next week's match against fellow battler Koo wee rup will be one to watch.
Warragul Industrials’ Travis Ogden picks up the ball as he eyes the goals.
Photographs by AMANDA EMARY.
by
The best showed the gap between them and the rest over the weekend, as the ladder logjam surrounding sixth spot tightened up.
Phillip Island vs Cora Lynn
Cora Lynn got a taste of the best the competition has to offer as they were unable to overcome Phillip Island.
The Cobras were valiant, matching the Bulldogs for the first half to be even at half time.
But when the whips were cracking, it was the quality of the home side that won out, kicking 10 goals to six after the main break to leave Cora Lynn to lick their wounds with a 12.9 (71) to 16.16 (112) defeat.
Forward half combo Ryan Gillis (five goals) and Nathan Gardiner (four) stuck to their tasks dutifully, but as the day wore on Phillip Island did well to keep their supply to a minimum.
Matthew Ryan, Matthew Briggs and Luke Ryan were also solid for the Cobras.
They call the third term the premiership quarter, and that was the case here as Phillip Island dominated possession, setting up repeated chances.
In the end it meant that a sevengoals-to-one rush left what was to that point an even game a foregone conclusion.
For Phillip Island Billy Taylor was the star in a best on ground performance, racking up five goals as well as plenty of possessions, while Hayden Bruce and Daniel Pearce were also strong.
The loss leaves Cora Lynn in fourth and looking a step down from the top three teams.
Best of the rest is hardly the worst thing to be, but the Cobras will have plenty to work on should they want to be a legitimate threat to the premiership.
Inverloch-Kongwak vs Bunyip
A fourth consecutive loss by 100 points or more has extended Bunyip's tour of torture by another week.
The Bulldogs, who have made no secret of the tough situation they find themselves in on the field, were no match for the undefeated Inverloch-Kongwak, going down 2.2 (14) to 22.20 (152).
Youngster Alex Dijkstra was the standout for the Bulldogs, standing up on multiple occasions against vastly more experienced opponents. It's been a strong year for the 19-year-old, who is a vice captain in the side.
Playing coach Lachlan Petch and Curtis Jenkin were also among the better Bulldogs.
For a team counting their small victories, they'll take something out of the first and third terms, where they were able to somewhat match the Sea Eagles, restricting them to four and three goals in those quarters respectively.
It was the other two terms were the home side were at their devastating best.
Tate Short and Taite Cumming were near-unstoppable, while Nicholas Baltas scored his second fivegoal bag in as many weeks.
The hits keep coming for Bunyip, who will now have to face Tooradin-Dalmore to finish their fiveweek run of playing top six teams.
Make it through that and with any luck some easier games against lower ranked opposition will present some better opportunities.
Korumburra Bena vs Koo wee rup
Koo wee rup snapped their seven-game losing streak courtesy of a solid win over Korumburra Bena. The Demons were made to work for their reward but were able to break the shackles late, kicking 5.7 to one goal in the final quarter to win 11.16 (86) to 5.7 (37).
Nathan Voss was on a tear, clearly determined to get the Demons a long-awaited win, where he was supported well by Nathan Muratore and Matthew Voss.
To nobody's surprise it was Jason Wells and Adam Amin doing the damage on the scoreboard – both spearheads kicked three goals to be the only multiple goalkickers for the game.
That proved to be the difference in the end, as Korumburra Bena could only find individual scorers, leaving them without a reliable target up forward.
Inaccuracy did threaten to derail the Demons at times, but in the end they found enough from their midfield to give them the opportunities they needed.
The Giants were well served by Matt Kennewell and Boyd Robertson, but they'll be disappointed to have let an opportunity slip against a fellow struggler.
Nar Nar Goon vs Kilcunda Bass Nar Nar Goon were able to cement themselves further inside the top six as they overran Kilcunda Bass.
The Goon were clearly in no mood to mess around, putting on 10 goals to one in the first half to take a commanding 55-point lead at the main break.
And although the Panthers were able to stabilise and put some solid work in, the margin was always going to be out of reach.
Nar Nar Goon eventually claimed victory 17.14 (116) to 10.8 (68).
Superstar forward Dermott Yawney was at his devastating best, booting seven goals, as Troy McDermott kicked five.
Also strong for Nar Nar Goon were Jed Smith and James Cairns.
It was a mixed bag for Kilcunda Bass, who could have been on the verge of the top six had they won.
They were completely overwhelmed to begin the match, but their fightback in the second half did give them some positives to take out of the affair.
Nathan Foote was as reliable as ever through the middle, as Kye Benson and Bradley Aldwell also played well.
The Panthers' clash against Warragul Industrials next week takes on significant meaning now, with the two teams looking the most likely to break into the top six.
Dalyston vs Tooradin-Dalmore Dalyston's difficult times against top teams continued over the weekend as they were blanketed by Tooradin-Dalmore.
The Magpies' position in the top six is now under serious threat after the 5.7 (37) to 20.12 (132) loss, now just being one win ahead of Warragul Industrials and Kilcunda Bass, with a worse percentage than the former.
Though Dalyson have been an improved unit this season, their first quarter was reminiscent of the Magpies of old. Tooradin-Dalmore were much too strong around the ground, putting on eight goals in the first term alone to take a 44-point lead into the first break.
They were able to turn things around somewhat in the second, kicking four goals to two, but those were to be the last goals they kicked, the reigning premiers running riot in the second half.
Former Collingwood player Adam Oxley was untouchable, booting six goals, and was ably supported by Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds and Cooper Shipp.
Curtis Murfett, Michael Harris and Mitch Hallahan were among the more efficient Magpies, but they were unable to stop their side from sinking to their third defeat by 70+ points in the past four weeks. Their next two weeks – against Nar Nar Goon and Warragul Industrials loom as crucial.
Both teams are around the Magpies on the ladder, with the Dusties in particular very keen to take their spot in the top six.
Win one or both and they can get back on track. Lose both and their bright start to the season might just lose its shine.
Dusties’ Bailey Beck gets a handball away before being taken down by Garfield’s Angus Emery.
Above: Ellinbank goaler Reagan Joyce takes aim as the sun shines during the 17 and under game on Saturday.
Ellinbank won 60-23.