Stars scrape through

By Ken Moore
FLAG favourite Garfield had to scrap hard to maintain its undefeated record against Warragul Industrials on Saturday.
With the game up for grabs at the 15-minute mark of the last quarter, the Stars dug deep to kick the last four goals and turn a one-point lead into a 25-point victory.
The Dusties, the home side, had a real crack and its efforts will provide plenty of heart for rival clubs, because the Stars, for one of the first times this season, looked vulnerable – largely due to the pressure the Industrials were able to exert.
The match pitted first versus second and lived up to its match-of-the-day billing.
The Industrials are to be applauded, because it abandoned a cautious approach most teams have employed against the Stars this season.
It took the game on, and troubled the visitors with its attacking play-on-at-all-costs style, which will give plenty of other clubs food for thought. The tackling, chasing and second efforts displayed by both sides were a highlight of what was the most pressure-filled game of the season.
The Dusties began brightly with goals by former Narre Warren players Chris Potalej, Nathan Brewster and Tom Synan to open up an 18-point lead inside 10 minutes before the Stars replied with majors by Jim Bow, Matthew Hobbs and Tom Marsh.
Under pressure, Garfield kicked poorly into its 50 metre attacking zone all quarter. Warragul fired the opening shot in the second term when Dan Johnson used his pace well to set up a 10-point lead before Garfield’s Luke Bee Hugo kicked a long goal. Soon afterwards, two goals by Tom Marsh, both after terrific marks and a six-pointer by veteran Mal McKenna gave the visitors a 15-point advantage. Not to be denied, the Dusties responded with goals by the busy Chris Larosa, Shane Ingham and Shane Brewster to give the Industrials the momentum and a three-point lead at the main break.
A second goal by slick Warragul forward Dan Johnson gave the home side a bit of breathing space early in the third quarter, but the visitors rose to the challenge. With goals by Daniel Fry, McKenna and talented youngster Dylan Collis, the Stars set up a seven-point buffer. A late major by Dusties coach Shane Brewster reduced the margin to a solitary point at three-quarter time.
Five minutes into the last quarter, inspirational Dusties coach Shane Brewster bobbed up again with a long goal to give the home side a six-point lead and an upset brewed. Jim Bow and Nick Marsh responded for the Stars, but the Industrials would not go away and when Nathan Brewster steered through a six-pointer at the 13-minute mark, only a point separated the teams.
In the final 10 minutes, the Stars kept pushing and its attacks were rewarded with four successive goals, three by Fry, all from marks and another by Nick Marsh, who was a gritty competitor.
Like a good side often does, while many of its team performed well below their best, Garfield some how still found enough will to win when it counted. Wingman Matthew Hobbs and Bee Hugo made strong contributions, as did ruckman Tom Marsh, who was good at both ends of the field.
Ben Marsh provided plenty of the midfield grunt work and Ryan Munro and Phil Burns offered good drive out of defence and through the middle in the first half.
Across half forward Mal McKenna showed he still had plenty to offer after he picked up many handy possessions and Daniel Fry, who for most part was quiet, produced a cameo effort, snagging three late-match winning goals.
“A lot of credit must go to them,” said Garfield coach Brent Eastwell, “they outplayed us for three quarters and proved they deserved their top two position,” he added.
Warragul had a good spread of contributors, led by agile ruckman Ben Hobgen, who won many knock outs and stymied a number of attacks in defence while hard working midfielders Chris Larosa and Shane Brewster gave their opponents the run around.
Adam Neal was superb in the last line of defence, wingman Chris Potalej used the ball well with his trusty left foot, Nathan Brewster presented well across the half forward line and forward Daniel Johnson, half back Rhett O’Hara and wingman Dale Williamson put in a good four quarter effort.
“In the last 10 minutes, our boys ran out of legs but there were plenty of positives. The kids took the risks I asked of them and with a number of newcomers we are starting to bond nicely,” first season coach Shane Brewster said with mixed emotions.