By David Nagel
Cora Lynn has rubber-stamped its credentials as a dangerous floater in this year’s WGFNC finals series with a comfortable 22-point victory over a depleted Phillip Island at the Cobradome on Saturday.
The Cobras, celebrating the 300th game of club-legend Tim Payne, continued their great form since the league-wide bye…winning their fourth game in five outings.
Impressively, they’ve defeated Nar Nar Goon and Phillip Island during that run, and suffered a narrow two-point loss to Tooradin-Dalmore.
That’s three of the top-four teams they’ve taken on over the last month of footy…and come away with their heads held high.
The Cobras welcomed back a couple of stars on the weekend, with Jeremy Monckton returning after a short-stint on the sidelines, while gun-midfielder Heath Briggs pulled on the jumper for his first game since round eight.
Talented forward Jai Rout missed his first game for the season, while Sean Wilson returned to the twos after making his senior debut last week.
The Cobras – inspired by Payne’s 300 – jumped out of the blocks early with star full-forward Nathan Gardiner proving too big and strong for the Bulldogs defence.
Beginning the game on 85 goals for the season, Gardiner quickly flew to 89 after a stunning four-goal burst in the opening stanza.
The Cobras stunned the Bulldogs early, but a couple of late settlers saw the home side take a 17-point lead to quarter time.
The Bulldogs narrowed the gap to just five points at the main break, before the Cobras used the premiership quarter to put their stamp on proceedings.
With Gardiner and Ryan Gillis in red-hot form up forward, the Cobras booted 6.6 to 2.1 in the third to take a vice-like grip on the contest.
The Bulldogs were typically brave in the fourth, but Shaun Sparks and his Cobras banked win number 11 in impressive style.
Gardiner with seven, and Gillis five, made it a combined 21 goals against the Bulldogs this year, while hard-nut Josh Cochrane continued to be an imposing threat around the football.
Luke Ryan continued his rise as fine player for the Cobras, while wingers Monckton and Nathan Villela stretched the Doggies out wide.
As for Phillip Island, well, a long list of injuries seems to have finally taken its toll.
Missing on Saturday were players such as Alex Duyker, Billy Taylor, Brendan Kimber, Eli Richards, Jason Tomada and Max Blake – all walk-up starts in the Bulldogs best 22 – while the loss of Hayden Bruce last week might be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The Doggies still possess class, with leaders Cam Pedersen and Jack Taylor guiding the way, but overcoming the loss of seven of your best players is mighty hard to do.
First-gamer James Lewis provided a spark for the Doggies, joining Pedersen and Taylor with two goals apiece, while experienced types in Damien Holmes and Daniel Pearce were serviceable contributors throughout the course of the afternoon.
The Bulldogs host Kooweerup this week, before putting their top-two position on the line against Inverloch in round 18.
The Cobras travel to Warragul this week for the Match of the Day against the Dusties, before heading to Kooweerup to round out their season.
Gardiner currently sits on 92 goals…needing just eight to chalk up his first-ever century of goals.
CORA LYNN 5.1 5.4 11.6 14.6(90)
PHILLIP ISLAND 2.2 4.5 6.6 10.8(68)
