By Ken Moore
NAR Nar Goon cruised to a dominant away-from-home victory over Kooweerup by more than a ton (108 points) on Saturday.
The writing was on the wall for the home side in the first quarter when the visitors rammed on six goals to one.
The Demons were competitive in the second term, but were found wanting in the second half as the Goon went on a goal spree.
Nar Nar Goon coach Clint Williams orchestrated many attacks in the first half and set the trend of the game and in defence tough Doveton recruit Tom Hallinan played his best game for the club and proved hard to pass.
Half-back Matt Stocco generated plenty of attack, as did wingman Dean Kelly and ruck-rover Matt Wade.
Brad Jones had his usual assertive presence all over the field and tall forward Matt Noonan was strong overhead and steered through six goals.
For Kooweerup ruck-rovers Rhys Morgan and Daniel Mullins extracted the ball from the packs on a regular basis, Brent Hood was assigned a tagging role and carried out his instructions well, while Tony Butera and Tooradin recruit Nathan Vanderheyden both won many possessions across the half-back line.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Blues down brave Bankers
CATANI was forced to fight all the way to defeat cellar dwellers, Ellinbank, by 41 points.
The Bankers took the game up the Blues in the first quarter and with four opening-term goals held an eight-point lead before Catani awoke from its slumber.
Central defender Nathan Ruskin was rock-solid all game, midfielders Antonio Benevenuto, Jason Evans and Sean Pickering instigated many forward thrusts and Phil Smith (seven goals) finished off much of their good work while Leigh Jose, Owen Fitzpatrick and Luke James often menaced the Bankers’ defence.
For Ellinbank, Toby Wallace proved hard to contain and drilled through six goals, Peter Joyce chopped off many threatening attacks, coach Jeremy Reid, Mark Johnson and wingman Nick Harper all stimulated the Bankers’ midfield.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Bunyip busts Buln Buln
BUNYIP slaughtered a listless Buln Buln by 150 points. After half-time it was all one-way traffic with the Lyrebird defence under siege.
Adam Rakip stamped himself as a player of the future with 10 goals.
It was a remarkable performance by Rakip for he played across the half-forward flank in the first half and only kicked the one goal, but notched the other nine when moved to full-forward in the second half.
Across half-back and through the middle, hard-nut Andrew Hobday, 17-year-old wingman and Gippsland Power squad member Wayne Morris, along with Josh Taylor, Robbie Direckx and Michael Whyte ran all amok after the main break.
Buln Buln’s second half was best forgotten. Brad Taylor and Michael White were the only multiple goal scorers for the lacklustre Lyrebirds.
Midfield Che Jenkins, Brenton Sheehan and Mitch Nobelius all tried hard, while Grant McDonald was his aggressive self, but had few team-mates in support.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Dusties hang on
WARRAGUL Industrials were made to work hard to overcome Poowong by 16 points.
The Dusties victory was inspired by Narre Warren recruit Danny Brewster, who put a bullet beside his name with 10 goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Ruckman Ben Hobgen dominated the ruck duels and gave his smalls first use of the ball, while 16-year-old Sean Lewis impressed once again with yet another polished game off his half-back flank.
Damian Dawson solidified the defence, Brett Wadleton and Chris Larosa were architects behind the Industrials third-quarter ascendancy that saw the visitor’s turnaround a six-point deficit into a 24-point lead at the last break.
For Poowong, Ryan Fitzgerald was busy around the big sticks and chimed in with four goals, Jarred Attenborough and Matt Grant had a busy midfield presence all afternoon and Trevor Hooker and Ben Hancock took a number of nice grabs across the forward line.
The Magpies badly missed speedy rover Barry Wyatt, who did well in the first half, but didn’t reappear after half-time due to a hamstring injury.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Cats snuff out Saints
NEERIM Neerim South crushed Nyora without any complications.
In near perfect conditions the Saints could only muster one first-half goal and five for the match and went down by 105 points.
The Cats had winners on every line led by midfield star Chris Urie, who racked up a staggering 50 possessions.
Veteran Jack Halligan chimed in with six goals and worked well in tandem with Chris Redl, who steered through three goals.
Darren Ratten, defender Cam Hinkley and wingman Ryan Muir were all prominent in a good team effort.
In contrast, good players were hard to find for Nyora.
On ballers Corey Wilson and Jake Hackett both tried hard, along with ruckman Daniel Morrison and from limited opportunities James Fowles scored three goals.
