WARRAGUL Industrials made another compelling statement that it cannot be dismissed as a genuine flag threat after rolled Nar Nar Goon by 18 points away from home on Saturday.
Little separated both sides until time-on in the third quarter when the Dusties scored three consecutive goals to establish a 21-point lead at the last change.
Warragul then took a stranglehold on the game with two early majors in the last quarter, the first an inspirational goal by Nick Visser from outside 50 metres to set the Industrials on their way to a match-winning lead.
The Goon kept coming over the next 25 minutes and kicked a further three goals, but couldn’t gobble up the deficit.
For the victors, Danny Brewster presented well across centre half-forward and doubled successfully as a loose man-defender when the Dusties kicked against the wind.
Jason Kennedy, Shane Brewster and Brett Wadleton offered good midfield drive, youngster Mitchell Dickason had lively forward presence and in defence Jamie West ran hard, Adam Neal produced a number of crucial spoils and Scott Frances, back from the army in Darwin did little wrong.
For the Goon, Matt Wade, as ever, prised the ball from the packs all game, coach Clint Williams used the ball constructively and Tom Hallinan did a good job on star Nilma forward Mick Santo.
Key forward Chris Jones moved far and wide and laid off the ball to his team-mates well, his brother Nathan, moved forward this week and was handy, but ruined his game by notching five behinds and Matt Stocco showed plenty of stamina and did put in a spirited effort.
Poor kicking at goal when it was on top in the first half, coupled with some ordinary kicking into its attacking 50 metres and some poor decision making proved costly for the Goon.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:
Buln Buln busted
BULN Buln was thrashed lock, stock and barrel by Kooweerup to the tune of 168 points.
After quarter time, the Lyrebirds offered little resistance.
Centre half-back Ben Miller both repelled and generated many attacks, rugged utility Rhys Morgan threw himself into the fray across the forward line and Sean Marusic was a driving force from his wing position and through the middle James Alexander often pumped the ball forward.
Matt Cameron shared the ruck duties with Ryan Kitchen and when resting in the forward pocket doubled as a key forward with seven goals and Craig Dyker was resilient in defence.
Such was the Demons’ dominance, he snuck forward to score a goal in the last quarter.
For Buln Buln, Paul Pratt and on-baller Mitch Nobelius stood up in the face of the onslaught and ruckman Craig Kennedy toiled hard and regular defender Ricky Mitchard moved forward and kicked two goals.
The season ended on a sour note for assistant coach Grant McDonald, who broke his arm in a tackle.
Tigers prevail
LANG Lang finished the season on a positive note with a 29-point victory over Bunyip.
The game was up for grabs at half-time before the Tigers, the home side, finished the far stronger.
Lang Lang seized control of proceedings in the third term, thanks to some good midfield work by Kurt Batt, Jason Kelly, Sean Dwyer and Adam Baxter.
Centre half-forward Aiden Brown showed strong hands and provided a good target netting four goals and half-backs Rhys Nisbett and Brett Hameeteman were a steadying influence.
Bunyip’s ruck-rover Michael Whyte never shirked an issue and racked up heaps of possessions, key forward Ryan Brown played a strong role and half-forward Stephen Henwood showed he was coming to grips with senior football after a fine game. Another youngster Sam Davies anchored the defence and received solid support from half-back flanker Ryan McMillan.
To pay Bunyip its dues – injuries saw to it that it did not have an interchange bench after the main break.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:
Poowong sinks the spoon
AFTER a tight first quarter, Poowong drew clear to down this season’s wooden spooners Nyora by 50 points.
Jarred Attenborough, who had a picnic chalking up more than 50 possessions, inspired the Magpies’ victory.
Talented forward Trevor Hooker booted eight goals and assistant coach Matt Grant bored into the packs all afternoon.
For Nyora, half-back Brodie Yapp stymied many forward thrusts, midfielders Adam Tagilaferro, Aiden Cumberland and Corey Wilson had a red-hot go and ruckman Daniel Morrison displayed his vast improvement this season with another top effort.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:
Neerim breaks the Bank
NEERIM Neerim South turned a one-point half-time deficit into a 42-point victory over Ellinbank.
Despite some hot attention all afternoon, Chris Urie regularly broke the lines, his brother Mick also showed plenty of grunt at both ends and was seldom pushed off the ball, Ryan Muir and Darren Ratten both enjoyed a fruitful game.
For Ellinbank, rising star Steven Ballingall, son of club legend Rob, produced a string of attacks, while wingman Andrew Gaul, who returned to the club this season, bobbed up on a regular basis.
Half-back Josh Peterson offered strong rebound, Neil Parke put his body into many contests and Andrew Quirk was the pick of the Bankers forwards.
