By David Nagel
“The show rolls on.”
The words of football manager Nick Gooden echoed through the changerooms of the Inverloch Recreation Reserve today after Warragul Industrials ended the back-to-back title hopes of Tooradin-Dalmore in an epic elimination final.
The Dusties kicked the last five goals of the match to overturn a 15-point deficit – five minutes into the final term – to progress to next Sunday’s WGFNC first semi-final against Nar Nar Goon or Cora Lynn with a 14-point victory.
Nic Visser kicked the first goal of the contest, before Tooradin replied with the next five to take a 26-point lead, 18 minutes into the first quarter.
The Seagulls had the aid of a three-to-four goal breeze and looked set to take a big advantage into quarter time.
But Shane Brewster, Mason McGarrity and impressive 15-year-old Cody Templeton kicked three goals in four minutes for the Dusties to drag the margin back to a straight kick at the first break.
The Dusties then kicked the last four goals of the second term to head to half time 12 points ahead.
Tooradin then went on a goal-scoring spree of its own, with a goal on the three-quarter-time siren to Brad Butler giving the Gulls a 16-point buffer at the final change of ends.
Will Gibson and Piva Wright exchanged goals at the start of the last, before the Dusties kicked five in 19 minutes to race away with the contest.
Gibson pounced on a loose ball after nine minutes of play, before McGarrity nailed a set shot to narrow the margin to four.
Todd Beck then converted after forcing a defensive turnover, to give the Dusties a lead they would never relinquish.
Kyle Beveridge then kicked his third for the afternoon to open up an eight-point lead after 20 minutes of play, before Adrian De Sando ended the fixture – and the Seagulls season – with a classy left-foot finish with 28 minutes gone.
Dusties coach Harmit Singh was smiling from ear-to-ear after the game, thrilled with his team’s ability to stay connected when confronted with adversity.
For the second-year running, the Dusties finished sixth on the ladder and knocked out the third-placed team.
“We have an unbelievable spirit in our group, whether rated externally or not, but internally we believe our best stacks up when it matters most,” Singh said.
“And this feels different and better to last year.
“We were five goals down, midway through the first quarter, then they kicked 15 points ahead in the last.
“We kept fighting, we stayed connected, we didn’t blame anyone, we worked through it.
“It’s so pleasing from a coaching perspective to get a win like that…it’s good reward for effort.
“It’s probably the best win that I’ve been a part of at the club, given everything that’s happened.”
Beveridge and Gibson kicked three each for the Dusties, while veteran ruck Mark Bradley dominated the stoppages around the ground.
Visser was his typically aggressive self in the scrimmages, while Templeton joined Gibson, Beveridge and Travis Ogden on the best players’ list.
Tooradin was brave in defeat, with defenders Adam Galea and Dylan Paarlberg leaving the field simultaneously after a massive clash in the second quarter…and not returning to the field.
Blake Grewar kicked three for the Gulls, while Brad Butler, Stewie Scanlon and Wright contributed two each.
Butler was undersized, but threw himself into the contest against Bradley in the ruck, while Luke McKenna played a great game in defence.
The loss marks the end of the coaching reign of Lachie Gillespie, who led the Seagulls to a drought-breaking premiership win just 12 months ago.
Gillespie coached 144 games for Tooradin, winning 74, losing 68 and two ending in draws in a career that started mid-season 2014.
In A Grade netball, Dalyston rode a fast start to a 40-22 victory over Kilcunda-Bass.
The Magpies burst out of the blocks with a 14-5 first quarter, then stamped their names on the contest with a 10-6 second stanza.
The Panthers won the third, before the Magpies finished off with an 11-4 victory in the last.
Alana McRae and Britt Thomas were dynamite for the Magpies, while Kacey Maund (C) capped off a great first season for Kilcunda with a solid display though the midcourt.
Finals continue in the WGFNC on Sunday, with arch rivals Nar Nar Goon and Cora Lynn meeting at Western Park in Warragul, while Nar Nar Goon and Kooweerup will look to progress to semi-finals in the netball.
For more on the Dusties big win, including interviews with Harmit Singh, Lachie Gillespie and Mark Bradley…grab a copy of Wednesday’s Pakenham Gazette.
WGFNC – ELIMINATION FINAL 1
TOORADIN-DALMORE 5.2 6.4 11.9 12.10(82)
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS 4.2 8.4 9.5 15.6(96)
Tooradin-Dalmore Goals: Blake Grewar 3, Brad Butler 2, Stewart Scanlon 2, Piva Wright 2, Adam Oxley, Xavier Shinners, Cooper Shipp. Best: Brad Butler, Luke McKenna, Piva Wright, Blake Grewar, Brent Macaffer, Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds.
Warragul Industrials Goals: Kyle Beveridge 3, Will Gibson 3, Mason McGarrity 2, Todd Beck, Shane Brewster, Adrian De Sando, Jackson Mockett, Kyle Staples, Cody Templeton, Nic Visser. Best: Nic Visser, Will Gibson, Kyle Beveridge, Cody Templeton, Travis Ogden, Mark Bradley.
