Lang Lang turns to dust

By Ken Moore
WARRAGUL Industrials showed its improvement and consolidated fifth spot on the ladder with a surprisingly easy 83-point victory over a very disappointing Lang Lang on Saturday.
The Dusties started well when star Narre Warren recruit Shane Brewster pulled in a wonderful pack mark and kicked truly.
However, the Tigers, the home side, hit back and opened up an 11-point lead midway through the first quarter after two six-pointers by goalsneak David Williams, quickly followed by another to emerging forward Aiden Brown.
In the latter part of the quarter, the Dusties turned things around with a goal by Jason Kennedy, after he cleverly weaved his way through plenty of oncoming traffic.
Two minutes later he showed his class again when he found space and with good poise to put through his second goal.
A late snap by Danny Brewster gave the Dusties a well-deserved 11-point lead at first change and if not for a number of squandered shots on goal by both Shane Brewster and Mick Santo, the visitors would have been further ahead.
In the second quarter the Dusties controlled play and stretched the lead with goals by Ariki Matwijkiw, after some good bodywork that was followed with two goals by Mick Santo and another to Shane Brewster to establish a 35-point advantage which they held at the main break.
The Tigers fell away completely after half-time and fell 74 points behind at three-quarter time, but did well to keep the margin to less than triple figures in the last quarter after the humiliation of the previous two.
After a crushing loss against Catani in round six, the Dusties made a big statement that it was not going to lie down easily this season and by the sheer points difference between the sides, it deserves to be paid respect by all clubs this season.
Shane Brewster, five goals, had a big say for the Industrials through both the midfield and up forward and he drove the ball forward on a regular basis and was the best player on the ground when the game was still in dispute.
Dom Larosa, Jason Kennedy, Brett Wadleton and Nic Visser added bite through the midfield and Matt Willis, Luke Simmonds and Jamie West held the defence together.
Debutant Sean Lewis showed real poise across halfback and shapes as a likely type.
Lang Lang is now missing half of the side that played in last season’s grand final and based on this season’s form it will not make the top six.
Good players were hard to find for the Tigers.
Adam Baxter did well running the ball out of defence in the first half. Strongly built Mooroolbark recruit and centre half-forward Luke Muirhead led and marked well and Rhys Nisbet, Clint Fulton and Ricky Caddell never stopped trying.
In Kurt Batt and Luke Muirhead with support from David Williams, the Tigers have a number of good attacking options, but must move the ball quicker into the forward line in order to give their forwards the opportunity to compete more on a one-on-one basis if they are to knock off the top sides this season.