Despite the efforts of Nar Nar Goon’s Jai Allcock, Warragul Industrials’ Michael Maunder stretches to take a strong mark during Saturday’s game.By Ken Moore
IT WOULD be rash to totally right off Nar Nar Goon’s chance of a finals appearance.
That is clear after the Goon produced its best effort of the season to beat Warragul Industrials by 55 points.
To assist the Goon’s cause, Catani lost to Poowong and Kooweerup slumped to its third consecutive loss against Buln Buln.
After the top six looked unlikely to change two weeks ago, Poowong, Nar Nar Goon, Ellinbank and Buln Buln all breathed life back into their seasons with victories.
After the Dusties scored the first two goals of the match, the Goon rammed on 12 unanswered goals to establish a commanding 64point lead by the main break.
Young wingman Andrew Oldmeadow set the Goon alight in the first quarter, taking seven marks and providing the Goon with plenty of midfield drive.
David Hoy was a pillar of strength at centre halfback and Michael Epstein offered plenty of drive around the packs.
Wingman Spencer Noonan created plenty of opportunities for his forwards in a good team effort.
For Warragul, Andrew Davidson did well on Goon sharpshooter Clint Sheedy and defender Dave Bracken and onballer Jason Kennedy made their presence felt.
Warragul can now dispel any thoughts it had of making the finals.
Buln Buln came from behind to mow down Kooweerup by seven points.
The Demons opened up a fivegoal lead thanks to three thirdquarter goals by Rhys Morgan before Buln Buln finished full of running.
Wingman Mick Pratt, Brent Eastwell and the Nobelius brothers, Mitch and Luke, provided the midfield spark, Brenton Lewien scouted the packs well and Jeremy Jagoe gave his team a good target with five goals.
For Kooweerup Scott Morrison, Peter Doll, Josh Winter and Morgan with four goals for the match proved hard to contain and defender Cameron McPhillips gave a good account of himself.
It was Kooweerup’s third consecutive loss and its second and thirdtier players need to step up to stop the Demons’ season spiralling out of control.
Nyora crushed Lang Lang by 211 points. The Saints set the mood of the game in the first quarter when they rattled on 12 goals.
Nathan Osler could hardly have any more impressive, bagging 11 goals, and he received able support from Chris Langley, who chimed in with eight, and Rory Gilliatte, who popped through six.
Young ruckman Tommy Vanagtmaal stepped up from the reserves and acquitted himself well.
Adam Baxter, Kurt Batt and rugged defender Sean Casey provided stout resistance but, as has been the case in recent weeks, more Tigers need to lift, if only to get a bit of respect and competitiveness back into their game.
Ryan Ablett notched nine goals to propel Bunyip to a 120point victory over NeerimNeerim South.
The Bulldogs had winners all over the ground with Troy Holmes, Clint Meyer and Nick Henwood all playing a big role.
Former NilmaDarnum utility Peter Davenport, who was granted a clearance midweek, chimed in with three goals and added plenty of grunt around the packs.
For NeerimNeerim South, ruckman Keane Bannister floated forward and scored three goals and the versatile Damian Rhind recaptured his best to give the Cats plenty of drive in the air and at ground level.
Poowong caused the boilover of the round, upsetting Catani by 12 points.
Catani struggled to curb the dominance of Luke James who scored eight goals and Rohan Best who steered through five.
Poowong trailed all day before it surged three goals clear midway through the last quarter, only to see the Blues fight back to level the scores.
In an exciting finish, Poowong put down the Catani challenge with late goals by Mitch Cooper and Josh Williams in the final minutes to keep its season’s finals hopes alive.
In a good team effort Magpie centre halfback Mark Hutchison solidified the defence and was aided well by Chris Wilson and Adam Miller.
Catani’s Owen Fitzpatrick troubled the Magpies’ defence with five goals, Luke McFarlane did good work in close and fed the ball out well, Brad McDonald in his first game since round one was prominent across halfforward and Josh Tymensen launched many attacks from defence and through the midfield.
Ellinbank notched its third victory of the season accounting for NilmaDarnum by 98 points.
Adam Weeding was a target with five goals and Mark Johnson, David Quirk and Luke Bond pumped the ball forward all game.
Jason Harwood played his first game for the season, kicked inaccurately but still managed to put away three goals.
Ruckman Rick Johnson played well, is improving with each game and is starting to give his small teammates plenty of feed.
Ren Wyatt, Shane Youngman, DWWWW recruit Matt Mallia and captain Steve Hoskin, who deputised for the injured Adrian Carr, all won their fair share of possessions for NilmaDarnum.
Despite exhaustive recruiting, Cora Lynn still had a long way to go to match the big boys after it went down by 57 points to Longwarry.
From midway through the first quarter the Crows never looked in danger.
The Cobras couldn’t sustain the pressure for any length of time and again Longwarry produced a fine team effort.
Glenn Browney notched five goals, its defence, led by Dean Dallinger, Ken Towt and Jason Voumard, let little through and Crow captaincoach Grant Close and livewire wingman Blair Weller wreaked havoc among the Cobra midfielders.
For Cora Lynn, Ben Collins, Chad Ingram and Lee Dowsett won plenty of possessions midfield and Anthony Guilliano and Scott Black were solid in defence.
