Warragul Industrials captaincoach Paul Rust came to Western Park this season with a successful career behind him. After playing 80 games and being part of Traralgon’s 2000 premiership team, Rust joined Buln Buln, where he played in the Lyrebirds’ 2001 and 2002 premiership teams. The rugged midfielder then coached North Gippsland team Gormandale in 2003 before a season with Ainslie in the ACT in 2004. Work and family commitments brought Rust back to Gippsland this year.
Ken Moore: It was a disappointing end to the season for the Dusties.
Paul Rust: Yes it was. Along with a few close results where we got beaten by under a goal, that has come back to cost us now.
KM: You are a vital part of the team but missed today’s game!
PR: I’ve struggled with a foot injury and hurt it again last week and just didn’t come up.
KM: What have been the positives to come out of the season?
PR: I’m new to the club but I think all the recruits had a very good year. I also think some of the young blokes in the side will be really good players and, if coached along the right lines, they will be very good players for many years. There are plenty of positives, the negative was not making the finals, which was my goal.
KM: The Dusties had a good crack in the third quarter.
PR: At the start we focused on pressure and using the ball well but we just didn’t do that. After halftime we got plenty of the ball and used it a lot better but sprayed four or five points early that should have been goals and those misses hurt us, but I thought we were still in it at threequarter time. In the last quarter Catani went defensive and dropped blokes back and we had a bad start despite having plenty of the ball.
KM: How do you think the finals will pan out?
PR: I really think that Catani are good on their day but they are struggling to put four quarters together at the moment and therefore Nyora is definitely the side to beat judging by the teams that we have played against. Kooweerup have done well but in the last few weeks appear to be down a bit. But they have a side that can go a long way as well.
