By David Nagel
First-year Inverloch-Kongwak coach Tom Hams has kept his perfect senior coaching record intact after his Seagulls scored a fast-finishing 68-point victory over Dalyston on Saturday.
The top-of-the-table clash was living up to its billing early in the third term, with two early goals to Dalyston narrowing the margin to just eight points, four minutes into the second half.
But a rare fumble from Michael Marotta was pounced on by Hams, who kicked truly on the run to begin a 10.9 to 0.3 romp to the finish line.
The Sea Eagles had plenty of it early in the contest, but couldn’t pierce the big sticks booting 1.7 to 1.1 in the opening stanza.
Hayden Wallis levelled the scores for the Magpies, minutes into the second, before Taite Cumming and Hams extended the lead back to 13 points.
Tall forward Hayden Mclean then plucked one out of the air for the Pies, and converted, to bring it back to seven.
The Magpies then lost their composure for a minute and it proved costly.
Lachlan Scott was gifted a goal after a 50-minute penalty, and when Marcus Toussaint received a free-kick and 50 – before the ball had been bounced in the middle – the Eagles had very quickly kicked out to a 20-point lead at half time.
The Magpies had their rally in the opening exchanges of the third, before the Sea Eagles settled to race away to a 15.13.103 to 5.5.35 triumph.
Dalyston was brave, and has improved immensely, but couldn’t sustain the level for four quarters.
Brad Monson and Will Clarke were terrific down back, while Mitch Hallahan and skipper Brayden Duve were influential figures through the midfield.
As for Inverloch…well their season is sizzling along nicely, with Hams taking over from his 2017 premiership coach Ben Soumilas after a shock loss to Warragul Industrials in last year’s elimination final.
“They (Dusties) had a good game plan, but we started the game well but just didn’t put the score on the board early,” Hams recalled.
“We didn’t strike when we had the chance and they went on a massive run.
“We were very flat after that; we haven’t spoken about it too much but we knew as a group that we had underperformed.
“But that only helps with the motivation to make amends this year.”
Hams and his team worked hard, and were cherry ripe for their first two games against Nar Nar Goon and Phillip Island.
“We made a focus on fitness, and I think it’s a good thing as a playing coach that you’re doing the work with the boys,” Hams explained.
“Over the summer we worked really hard on getting fit, we did some tough running, and made some tweaks to the game-plan.
“We’ve had good numbers on the track, and having that tough draw early really excited us.
“You want to play those top sides as much through the year as you can, and play them twice, so we sort of flipped the narrative and made it an exciting challenge instead of looking at it as daunting.
“The new blood hasn’t seen the six years of Phillip Island being so strong, so they come with a different mindset and that’s been great for the playing group.”
In his first season as coach – his record stands unconquered at six-zip.
“We’ve been lucky with injuries and had continuity in our team, week in, week out, so while it’s been good we’re well aware that teams like Phillip Island and Nar Nar Goon – who we played in rounds one and two – will get better as the season rolls on,” Hams said.
“We’re aware that those teams will get better, and then there’s Tooradin, and the backend is when we all want to be playing our best football.
“It’s started well…but it’s only early days.”
Star-recruit Nick Baltas continued his fantastic start to the season, slotting four goals, while Hams was influential through the midfield with three of his own.
Will Hams was also exceptional for the winners, while reliable defender Lewis Rankin played a starring role in the back half.
Cora Lynn has bounced back strongly from its disappointing loss to Dalyston last week with a hard-fought 12.8.80 to 10.12.72 away victory over Nar Nar Goon.
The Goon looked the winner at several stages of the last quarter, but the Cobras refused to buckle – bringing back memories of their gutsy elimination final win over the Goon from last year.
Both teams had a key focal point, with Nathan Gardiner booting six for the winners and Dermott Yawney making a stylish return to football after breaking his finger against Kooweerup in round two.
Yawney matched Gardiner’s figure, but the Cobras prevailed in a real heart-stopping affair.
A six-goal final term converted an 11-popint deficit into a crucial eight-point victory.
Defender Matt Briggs played a great game for the Cobras, getting great support from Lachie Peluso as the Cobras worked desperately to repel the Goons’ forward thrusts.
Brendan Hermann starred through the midfield for the Goon, who has now won just two of its first six outings.
But a draw against Phillip Island in round four, and this improved performance against the Cobras, will hold the Goon in good stead as they head into a juicy part of their draw.
They face a tough trip to Warragul this week – who will have milestone mania – but then have a stretch of five matches that they should capitalise on if they’re to be a genuine threat this year.
Kilcunda-Bass forward Taylor Gibson has continued his red-hot form, kicking seven goals to lead the Panthers to an 11.9.75 to 7.6.48 victory over Garfield.
The Stars jumped the Panthers, leading by 16 points at the first change, but Gibson and co fired back strongly with a 5.1 to 0.1 second term.
Gibson has now kicked 10, 5 and 7 in his only three outings this year, and looms as a serious threat to Phillip Island this week.
Midfielder Nathan Foote starred in his first game back since round two, while Nick Lang kicked four for the vanquished Stars.
Gun-recruit Josh Eyre has made an impact in his first senior game for Warragul Industrials, with the Collingwood VFL player kicking three goals in the Dusties 10.12.72 to 8.3.51 win over Kooweerup.
This one was never going to be high-scoring, but the Dusties did break free of the shackles with a commanding six-goal-to-two third term.
Lefty Trav Ogden had a huge impact for the winners, while Todd Beck and Michael Debenham controlled the extremities.
Mitch Cammarano and Tim Miller were best for the Demons, who have now lost five on the trot with Tooradin and Inverloch looming large.
In other games this week, Phillip Island showed no mercy in a 31.19.205 to 1.0.6 thumping of Bunyip, with Brendan Kimber making a stunning return from injury with five goals.
Trav Woodfield matched Kimber’s output, while Max Walton had the ball on a string for four quarters.
The Doggies had 50 shots at goal to Bunyip’s one…with Ned Ashton making that solitary opportunity count.
And Julian Suarez kicked six, and Piva Wright three, as Tooradin-Dalmore’s big guns up forward led the Gulls to a 14.19.103 to 3.7.25 victory over Korumburra-Bena.
The two Brads – Butler and Lenders – were terrific for the Seagulls, while Paul Fermanis showed a touch of class with all three goals for his Giants.
