Dusties deliver

By Ken Moore
WARRAGUL Industrials’ rich vein of early season form continued after it thumped Kooweerup at home by 62 points on Saturday.
The Dusties, wooden spooners for two consecutive seasons, have won four of their five games and much to the surprise of many good judges now sit in fourth spot on the ladder.
Currently two games and a significant percentage clear of seventh-placed Longwarry; the Industrials will now have their sights firmly set on a top-six finals berth.
After the an even first quarter, the Demons grabbed a mini break when Kooweerup’s Pines recruit Will Casey conjured a goal from nothing with an incredible left-foot snap early in the second quarter.
Moments later Gippsland Power squad member Shaun Marusic marked and converted from an angle to open up a 10-point advantage for Kooweerup that looked on target for a successful afternoon.
That’s where it all ended as Warragul lifted and with four unanswered goals went into the half-time break with an 18-point lead.
If not for some bungled kicking on goal, it could have been a little further in front.
Narre Warren recruit Shane Brewster did well through the midfield and youngster Cam Hardy chimed in with three opportunist goals.
Nick Visser, Manny Peresso and Jamie West rebounded the ball out of defence on a regular basis and all played a big role in setting up a platform for the Dusties’ victory.
Warragul charged further ahead in the second half, outscored Kooweerup in both quarters and registered another convincing victory to further reinstate that it is a vastly improved team that cannot be dismissed lightly, even by the top sides.
The Dusties had the better attacking options with Danny Brewster, five goals, and Mick Santo, four, both proving troublesome for the Demon defence, especially in the second half when the intensity of their midfielders and defenders waned.
Nuggetty Narre Warren veteran recruit Brett Wadleton continually siphoned the ball out of the packs while Jacob Matwijkiw, Adam Neal and Damian Dawson offered plenty of drive all game.
Demon playmaker Rhys Morgan was a stand out, but had few midfield colleagues in support for all four quarters.
In defence, Ben Miller, James Alexander, Joel Brunn and Craig Dyker all offered more than their share of resistance, Brent Hood, in his second game, showed plenty of encouraging signs and as usual ruckman Matt Cameron gave his all.