By David Nagel
BUNYIP 4.1(25) def by INVERLOCH-KONGWAK 20.19(139)
A ruthless Inverloch-Kongwak has spared no mercy on a battling Bunyip on Saturday…almost doubling its own score in the last quarter on the way to a 20.19.139 to 4.1.25 success.
The winless Bulldogs had just played their proudest football of the season in the third term, outscoring the Sea Eagles 3.0 to 2.3 to trail by 48 points at three-quarter time.
Chase Saunders had kicked two goals for the Doggies, and Darby Craven and Jason Williams one each, as the only winless team in the WGFNC took things up to the ladder leaders.
But the Sea Eagles kicked into another gear in the final term, adding 10.6 to their current score of 10.13 to run out 114-point winners.
They also kept the Bulldogs scoreless in the final 30 minutes of play.
Inverloch coach Tom Hams was one of three changes from the loss against Nar Nar Goon last week, with Xavier Hughes and Joe Soumilas (Concussion Protocols) also sitting on the sidelines.
Thirds players Cade Brown and Harry Butcher came in for their debut senior outings, while 2022 WGFNC Team of the Year member Shem Hawking played his first game for the season after two games back in the reserves.
Taite Cumming and classy lefty Will Hams kicked four goals each for the Eagles, while Bailey Patterson continues to make a smooth transition from half-back to the forward line…snagging three goals.
Andy Soumilas, Will Turner and Tom Wyatt all chimed in with a couple each, while the pressure of Jordan Tomas stood out like a beacon on the day.
The Sea Eagles now face a roller-coaster ride home, hosting Tooradin-Dalmore and Phillip Island in rounds 16 and 18 respectively, with a visit to Korumburra-Bena sandwiched in.
The Bulldogs will be disappointed with their last-quarter fade-out, but can hold their heads high after competing well for three quarters.
Saunders was again rock-solid for the Bulldogs, while Seth Ashton and Reid Jenkin joined Williams on the best players list.
The Doggies head to Kooweerup this week, before games against Dalyston and Nar Nar Goon to round out the season.
DALYSTON 3.2(20) def by NAR NAR GOON 13.15(93)
Nar Nar Goon has backed up its impressive display against Inverloch-Kongwak last week with a hard-working 13.15.93 to 3.2.20 victory over Dalyston on Saturday.
Goon coach Justin Stanton would have been asking himself one big question after last week’s stunning win over the Sea Eagles…What do we try and achieve over the last month of footy against teams we should be beating easily?
The obvious answer would be to see the return of star players such as Brendan Hermann, Eamon Trigg and Luke Bettio…but there’s plenty more to be achieved as well.
The Goon almost knows its finals destiny, with a likely repeat of last year’s elimination final against Cora Lynn looming large on the horizon.
Upcoming games against Korumburra-Bena, Kilcunda-Bass and Bunyip may not be the ideal preparation, but the Goon will go in confident having won 11 of its last 12 games.
That first final – that’s the only time this season that we’ll be able to accurately assess if the Goon has improved on last year or not.
One definite improvement has been the inclusion of dangerous half-forward Deon Boavida, who kicked a best-of-the-season six goals against the Magpies to rubber-stamp his class.
Dermott Yawney continues to bubble along nicely, kicking three, while Troy McDermott only kicked one, but it saw him join Nathan Voss on 168 goals and at number-four on the list of WGFNC sharp-shooters.
Jake Smith ran rampant out wide for the Goon, while JJ Peni and Sam and Jake Blackwood were solid performers for the winners.
The Magpies have now won just one of their last eight games, but should finish off in style with games against Bunyip and Korumburra-Bena to round out their season.
Michael Harris, Shaun Silver and Curtis Murfett will take good form into this week’s home clash against Warragul Industrials.
KILCUNDA-BASS 10.12(72) def KOOWEERUP 8.5(53)
Kilcunda-Bass has maintained its tenuous grip on seventh place on the ladder after the Panthers proved too strong for Kooweerup in a 10.12.72 to 8.8.53 victory at the Bass Recreation Reserve.
Normally that seventh placing would be a godsend at this time of year…maintaining motivation as the team most likely to break into the top six.
But the very clear discrepancy between the top and bottom half is stark, with a two-game and 40-percent margin making that late-season run an impossible task this year.
The Panthers, who welcomed back key forward Taylor Gibson – who kicked 10 goals against the Demons earlier in the year – had the better of the opening exchanges.
They led by 19 points at quarter time and, try as they might, the Demons never quite had the answers on how to peg it back.
Anthony Daraio was once again prominent for the Panthers, exactly maintaining his average over the last nine weeks of the season with three goals for the winners.
Gibson and Owen Thomas kicked two each, while Dale Gawley and Ben Eddy continued their terrific combination through the midfield.
As for the Demons…well they’re limping to the line this year.
Recent losses to Dalyston and Kilcunda-Bass show where they really do sit this year, while a game against Bunyip this week is probably their only real possibility of sending outgoing coach Rhys Nisbet out as a winner.
Round 17 and 18 engagements against a motivated Phillip Island and Cora Lynn are going to prove tough.
There were two main highlights for the Demons on the weekend, with Jason Wells kicking four goals and Bailey Galante becoming just the third player – behind Lachie Peluso and Tim Payne – to play 100 games in the WGFNC.
Cora Lynn ruck, Billy Thomas, will join the trio in two weeks’ time in round 17.
TOORADIN-DALMORE 23.13(151) def KORUMBURRA-BENA 2.8(20)
Things seem to be falling nicely into place for reigning premiers Tooradin-Dalmore after the Seagulls had a much-easier time of things with a 131-point victory over Korumburra-Bena on Saturday.
The Seagulls have been escape-artists in recent weeks, coming from behind in last-quarters against Warragul Industrials and Cora Lynn, but their ‘Harry Houdini’ skills were not required in a 23.13.151 to 2.8.20 dissection of the Giants.
And it was two familiar faces, loyal stalwarts of the club, that gave the Seagulls the impetus for victory.
Kris ‘Kritter’ Sabbatucci played his first senior game this season after doing an ACL last year, an injury which cost him the chance of playing in the drought-breaking premiership win.
Sabbatucci is a genuine heart-and-soul member of this footy club, one who stuck fat through the tough times, and the motivation to see him on the premiership dais would be immense.
Sabbatucci kicked a goal on the weekend to celebrate his comeback.
Also, back in goal-kicking form was Julian Suarez, who kicked five goals on the weekend to take his tally to 21 for the season.
Suarez has some of the best hands in the business, but Saturday’s haul was his first-time kicking goals in his four weeks back from injury.
If he gets the hot hand, lookout…because he brings a real point of difference to the Seagulls front half.
Liam Adams, Brad Butler and Stewie Scanlon all chipped in with three for the Gulls, who had Brent Macaffer in sizzling touch through the midfield.
Young tall Cooper Shipp continues to impress at either end of the ground, while Connor O’Riordan has locked in his spot with some very consistent form.
Jay Walker was once again outstanding for the Giants, while Blake Webb and Evan Allaway took on the challenge of the reigning champs in style.
