By David Nagel
The main challengers appear to be getting more and more distant by the minute.
Inverloch-Kongwak’s grip on the 2023 WGFNC premiership cup is becoming vice-like after the Sea Eagles toyed with reigning champions Tooradin-Dalmore at the Inverloch Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The final score of 12.9.81 to 7.11.53 would suggest a competitive contest took place between the Sea Birds…but five of the last seven goals from Tooradin failed to camouflage the gap that exists between the two clubs.
Inverloch led by 43 points at three-quarter time, and stretched to 48 after Will Hams kicked the first of the final term, before the Seagulls finally found some system and began to rally.
They kicked 5.3 to 3.0 in the last 20 minutes of play.
That 33 points they kicked in the final term is identical to what Inverloch concedes on average over four quarters of football this season, and was only 19 points short of what the Seagulls had scored in their first seven quarters against the Eagles this year.
They had scored 52 points in seven quarters leading into the last term on Saturday.
Either the Sea Eagles relaxed…or the Gulls finally etched out a plan that works.
You can bet they’ll be differing views from both camps just two weeks out from finals.
“We can grind them and crush their spirit, or they can outscore us this quarter and we give them hope.”
Only the passage of time will tell if Tom Hams message at three-quarter time will hurt his team or not.
The Sea Eagles had winners all over the park.
The main concern for Tooradin would be the dominant display of the Sea Eagles twin talls, Clinton McCaughan and Marcus Toussaint, with McCaughan in particular combining aerial strength with some quality work below his knees.
He also kicked two goals resting forward, with the first of those a classic snap off his preferred left foot.
The Gulls will welcome back Piva Wright on the eve of finals, and the grand final best-on-ground from last year will need to hit the ground running if the Gulls are to turn those big-man fortunes around.
Will Hams, Will Turner and Bailey Patterson were also on fire for the Eagles, and epitomise the type of football that Tom Hams is trying to play.
Get back and help the defence, then burn your opponents on the way back with some sublime sharing of the footy!
It worked on the weekend, and the Seagulls failed to control it.
The scary thing is; Nick Baltas returns from holidays this week while Toby Mahoney is on the precipice of his return after six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring.
Tom Hams didn’t play on Saturday, but will recover from a slight calf strain to take his place in finals, while gun midfielder Ethan Park is another that missed on the weekend.
Corey Casey looked good in patches, in his first game back for the year, while first-gamer Jarvis Harvey showed promising signs kicking the opening goal of the match.
Lewis Hill produced a terrific display on centre wing for the Gulls, while the news could have been worse if not for the efforts of Jordan Kelly and Luke McKenna in the back half.
The Gulls just don’t appear to have the ping or pizazz that the Eagles do right now.
But the premiership defence is not over yet for Lachie Gillespie and his team, with the Gulls needing to beat Garfield and Kilcunda-Bass to earn a likely double chance in the top two.
And that’s where you need to finish to take on the Eagles in the second semi-final…with the minor premiership now locked away with two rounds left to play!
Kooweerup star Jason Wells has taken his tally to 45 goals for the season after booting 10 goals for the Demons in a 27.14.176 to 4.7.31 thumping of Bunyip.
It was just the second time the Demons had hit triple figures this year, easily surpassing their 108 points they scored against Dalyston in round one.
Wells was magnificent all day, and the Demons reached that same level in the last term by pounding 11 goals past the floundering Bulldogs.
Matt Voss joined the Wells party, slotting six majors for the Demons, while Matt Drommel kicked three in just his third game at the level.
Ben Wright booted two for the Bulldogs, who will be counting down the days until the season ends.
KIlcunda-Bass livewire Anthony Daraio has continued his fine run of recent form by booting four goals in the Panthers 10.13.73 to 10.3.63 victory over a plucky Garfield.
Daraio has now kicked 21 goals in his last six matches, including six, three and four in Panthers’ wins.
The Panthers let the Stars off the hook in the first term, scoring 2.6 to 0.1, to leave the door ajar.
But two goals each to Ben Eddy and Taylor Gibson, and some good form from Dale Gawley, Nathan Foote and Jake Weightman, saw the Panthers hold the Stars at bay.
Angus Emery and Lachie Spinks snared a couple each for the Stars, who face Tooradin and Warragul Industrials to round out their season.
The Panthers have two home games to finish, against Nar Nar Goon and Tooradin.
Warragul Industrials has made it three wins on the trot after the Dusties overcame a persistent Dalyston by 57 points at Dalyston.
Nothing came easy for the Dusties, with key players such as Matt Herbert, Sam Russell and Kane Oldham sitting on the sidelines, while the home side welcomed Blake Carew and Mitch Hallahan back to the fray.
The Dusties led by 22 points at half time, but kicked nine goals to three after the break to shake off a determined opponent.
Mason McGarrity showed his class up forward for the winners, slotting four goals to add to his six goal effort against Phillip Island last week, while VFL listed Josh Eyre kicked three to make it eight goals from his three games this season.
Veteran Shane Brewster was brilliant for the Dusties, while Bailey Beck and Tom Commadeur continued a good run of recent form.
Young-gun Jaxon Foon kicked two for Dalyston, while Lachie Wright and Brayden Duve were solid contributors across the day.
And Dermott Yawney has kicked a best-of-the-season nine goals to lead Nar Nar Goon to a 29.24.198 to 1.2.8 smashing of Korumburra-Bena.
Yawney had solid support from Jarrod Smith and Deon Boavida, who kicked five and four goals respectively, as the Goon piled on an impressive 19 goals in the second half alone.
The Goon had 13 goal-kickers on the day, which included Aidan Pipicelli, Trent Armour and JJ Peni, who were all dominant figures on the day.
The Goon could now finish third and take on Warragul Industrials in the first week of finals.
Justin Stanton and his boys have now won nine of their 10 games.
