By David Nagel
Kooweerup and Tooradin-Dalmore are off and running in 2024 after the Demons and Seagulls claimed their first victories of the WGFNC A Grade season.
Kooweerup’s first taste of success was particularly impressive, knocking over the previously undefeated Nar Nar Goon, 52-48, on the Goon’s home court at Spencer Street.
The Demons came out blazing, twice scoring four unanswered goals in the opening term to take a 16-12 lead to quarter time.
The class trio of Kate Sidebottom (C), Claise Janssen (WA) and Chantelle Stokkel (WD) were great through the midcourt for the Demons, while Jayda McConkey (GS) and Ash Murphy (GA) were proving a handful in the circle.
But the Goon was never going to give up easily, and with Chantelle Dale (C) and Meaghan Winter (WA) inspiring their teammates, the Goon closed to one goal adrift, early in the second.
The Demons led by two at half time, and overcame a third-quarter arm wrestle to lead by four at the final break.
Kyra Esler (GS) brought the Goon back into the match with some quality shooting, but seven of eight goals – midway through the final term – gave the Demons a match-winning buffer.
The Demons led by as much as eight in the last quarter, before the Goon responded late in the contest.
Tooradin-Dalmore is finally on the board after the Seagulls proved too strong for Warragul Industrials, winning 56-39 on Anzac Day.
The Gulls have had an unusually slow start to the season, losing to Cora Lynn and Kilcunda-Bass, but bounced back to their best against the Dusties.
Chloe Phillips (GS) and Alex Maher (GA) worked hard for their scoring opportunities in the opening term, leaving the Gulls 13-9 ahead, before Phillips scored 12 goals in the second quarter alone to open up a 29-16 advantage.
The second half was pretty even, the Gulls outscoring the Dusties by 27-23, but the winning margin had already been established.
Cora Lynn has made it three wins from three games after the Cobras overcame a dour Bunyip, 39-21, in a low-scoring game at the Cobradome.
After pushing Inverloch-Kongwak in round one, the Cobras will now take victories over Tooradin-Dalmore, Phillip Island and Bunyip into this week’s round-four bye.
Gemma Stacey (GS) proved the difference in a very tight first quarter, but Bunyip bounced back to trail by just six at half time.
The Cobras came out of the blocks firing in the third quarter, ending any chance of a Bunyip revival with six unanswered goals to start the second half.
The Cobras cruised home from there, with star defenders Danielle Cameron (GK) and Annabel Sheppard (GD) conceding just 21 goals for the match.
Speaking of great defensive efforts, back-to-back champion Inverloch-Kongwak played an almost perfect first quarter on its way to a 64-33 win over Garfield.
The Sea Eagles were ruthless in the opening stanza, with Ella Sadler (GA) and Amy Scott (GS) scoring 16 goals between them, while defenders Millie Sadler (GK) and Renee Pilkington (GD) kept the Stars attack to just three.
The contest was over at that point, although the Stars did rebound; scoring 10 goals in each of the three remaining quarters.
Kelsey Buxton (C) was once again dynamic for the Eagles through the midcourt, while Kate French (WD) started some positive ball-movement from the reigning champs out of defence.
Kim Dowson (WA/WD) and Jemima Sheedy (C/GK) were solid four-quarter contributors for the Stars.
In other games this week, Dalyston remains undefeated in second place on the ladder after a hard-fought 59-49 win over Korumburra-Bena.
Britt Thomas (WA), Ruby Brosnan (C) and Bella Schmidt (GS) were smooth operators for the Magpies, while Ash Cuff (WA) and Felicity Fox (C) refused to concede for the Giants.
And a fast start has piloted Phillip Island to a 51-46 victory over Kilcunda-Bass at Bass.
The Bulldogs were rampant early, with the talented duo of Lily Mewett (GS) and Ella Duggan (GA) helping the visitors to a four-goal lead at quarter time.
The two teams went basically goal-for-goal from that point forward, with Lexi Walton (C) and Maya Huther (WA) holding strong to provide the Doggies with their second win in four outings.
A GRADE: Tooradin-Dalmore 56 v Warragul Industrials 39, Dalyston 59 v Korumburra-Bena 49, Nar Nar Goon 48 v Kooweerup 52, Kilcunda-Bass 46 v Phillip Island 51, Garfield 33 v Inverloch-Kongwak 64, Cora Lynn 40 v Bunyip 21.
B GRADE: Tooradin-Dalmore 60 v Warragul Industrials 28, Dalyston 63 v Korumburra-Bena 36, Nar Nar Goon 78 v Kooweerup 47, Kilcunda-Bass 49 v Phillip Island 26, Garfield 41 v Inverloch-Kongwak 56, Cora Lynn 35 v Bunyip 33.
C GRADE: Tooradin-Dalmore 44 v Warragul Industrials 16, Dalyston 28 v Korumburra-Bena 38, Nar Nar Goon 38 v Kooweerup 25, Kilcunda-Bass 33 v Phillip Island 18, Garfield 29 v Inverloch-Kongwak 46, Cora Lynn 33 v Bunyip 27.
D GRADE: Tooradin-Dalmore 31 v Warragul Industrials 17, Dalyston 18 v Korumburra-Bena 49, Nar Nar Goon 31 v Kooweerup 13, Kilcunda-Bass 30 v Phillip Island 27, Garfield 34 v Inverloch-Kongwak 32, Cora Lynn 32 v Bunyip 30.
17 UNDER: Tooradin-Dalmore 44 v Warragul Industrials 11, Dalyston 25 v Korumburra-Bena 46, Nar Nar Goon 41 v Kooweerup 15, Kilcunda-Bass 19 v Phillip Island 51, Garfield 25 v Inverloch-Kongwak 24, Cora Lynn 40 v Bunyip 31.
15 UNDER: Tooradin-Dalmore 22 v Warragul Industrials 26, Dalyston 14 v Korumburra-Bena 19, Nar Nar Goon 34 v Kooweerup 23, Kilcunda-Bass 4 v Phillip Island 54, Garfield 18 v Inverloch-Kongwak 31, Cora Lynn 29 v Bunyip 7.
13 UNDER: Tooradin-Dalmore 37 v Warragul Industrials 17, Dalyston 16 v Korumburra-Bena 31, Nar Nar Goon 57 v Kooweerup 3, Kilcunda-Bass 26 v Phillip Island 23, Garfield 16 v Inverloch-Kongwak 14, Cora Lynn 51 v Bunyip 3.
11 UNDER: Tooradin-Dalmore 27 v Warragul Industrials 4, Dalyston 11 v Korumburra-Bena 5, Nar Nar Goon 27 v Kooweerup 9, Kilcunda-Bass 2 v Phillip Island 30, Garfield 7 v Inverloch-Kongwak 10, Cora Lynn 27 v Bunyip 5.
LADDERS
A GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch Kongwak 4 0 0 231 131 176.34 16
Dalyston 3 0 0 178 121 147.11 12
Cora Lynn 3 1 0 178 142 125.35 12
Kilcunda Bass 2 1 0 141 131 107.63 8
Nar Nar Goon 2 1 0 146 136 107.35 8
Phillip Island 2 2 0 191 195 97.95 8
Tooradin Dalmore 1 2 0 140 132 106.06 4
Korumburra Bena 1 2 0 151 159 94.97 4
Kooweerup 1 2 0 126 160 78.75 4
Garfield 1 2 0 111 160 69.38 4
Bunyip 0 3 0 86 129 66.67 0
Warragul Industrials 0 4 0 157 240 65.42 0
B GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch Kongwak 4 0 0 251 141 178.01 16
Tooradin Dalmore 3 0 0 164 88 186.36 12
Dalyston 3 0 0 181 121 149.59 12
Nar Nar Goon 3 0 0 180 124 145.16 12
Kilcunda Bass 2 1 0 130 116 112.07 8
Warragul Industrials 2 2 0 196 214 91.59 8
Garfield 1 2 0 133 151 88.08 4
Phillip Island 1 3 0 159 193 82.38 4
Cora Lynn 1 3 0 140 179 78.21 4
Bunyip 0 3 0 103 141 73.05 0
Korumburra Bena 0 3 0 109 188 57.98 0
Kooweerup 0 3 0 119 209 56.94 0
C GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Nar Nar Goon 3 0 0 114 69 165.22 12
Inverloch Kongwak 3 1 0 168 104 161.54 12
Tooradin Dalmore 3 0 0 111 73 152.05 12
Cora Lynn 3 1 0 134 115 116.52 12
Kilcunda Bass 2 1 0 93 71 130.99 8
Korumburra Bena 2 1 0 94 85 110.59 8
Garfield 1 1 1 91 105 86.67 6
Dalyston 0 1 2 86 96 89.58 4
Warragul Industrials 1 3 0 81 149 54.36 4
Kooweerup 0 2 1 73 104 70.19 2
Bunyip 0 3 0 75 97 77.32 0
Phillip Island 0 4 0 82 134 61.19 0
D GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Nar Nar Goon 3 0 0 112 45 248.89 12
Korumburra Bena 3 0 0 133 69 192.75 12
Garfield 3 0 0 129 72 179.17 12
Tooradin Dalmore 3 0 0 91 57 159.65 12
Inverloch Kongwak 3 1 0 132 83 159.04 12
Cora Lynn 2 2 0 111 112 99.11 8
Kooweerup 1 2 0 55 68 80.88 4
Phillip Island 1 3 0 88 129 68.22 4
Kilcunda Bass 1 2 0 70 103 67.96 4
Bunyip 0 3 0 72 121 59.50 0
Warragul Industrials 0 4 0 78 138 56.52 0
Dalyston 0 3 0 45 119 37.82 0
17 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Phillip Island 4 0 0 211 91 231.87 16
Tooradin Dalmore 3 0 0 112 47 238.30 12
Korumburra Bena 3 0 0 169 80 211.25 12
Inverloch Kongwak 3 1 0 127 71 178.87 12
Garfield 3 0 0 102 72 141.67 12
Nar Nar Goon 2 1 0 103 92 111.96 8
Cora Lynn 1 3 0 108 150 72.00 4
Kooweerup 1 2 0 58 101 57.43 4
Bunyip 0 3 0 82 115 71.30 0
Dalyston 0 3 0 74 109 67.89 0
Kilcunda Bass 0 3 0 80 141 56.74 0
Warragul Industrials 0 4 0 47 204 23.04 0
15 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Warragul Industrials 4 0 0 140 88 159.09 16
Nar Nar Goon 2 0 1 125 58 215.52 10
Phillip Island 2 1 1 149 93 160.22 10
Tooradin Dalmore 2 1 0 93 51 182.35 8
Cora Lynn 2 2 0 96 76 126.32 8
Kooweerup 2 1 0 61 57 107.02 8
Korumburra Bena 2 1 0 69 76 90.79 8
Garfield 1 2 0 64 55 116.36 4
Inverloch Kongwak 1 3 0 76 99 76.77 4
Dalyston 1 2 0 33 47 70.21 4
Kilcunda Bass 0 3 0 32 137 23.36 0
Bunyip 0 3 0 27 128 21.09 0
13 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Cora Lynn 3 0 1 164 57 287.72 14
Nar Nar Goon 3 0 0 136 26 523.08 12
Garfield 3 0 0 64 36 177.78 12
Warragul Industrials 3 1 0 105 99 106.06 12
Tooradin Dalmore 2 0 1 104 46 226.09 10
Korumburra Bena 2 1 0 81 60 135.00 8
Dalyston 1 2 0 47 55 85.45 4
Inverloch Kongwak 1 3 0 71 100 71.00 4
Kilcunda Bass 1 2 0 44 93 47.31 4
Phillip Island 0 4 0 79 136 58.09 0
Kooweerup 0 3 0 24 108 22.22 0
Bunyip 0 3 0 24 127 18.90 0
11 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Tooradin Dalmore 3 0 0 87 16 543.75 12
Nar Nar Goon 3 0 0 57 22 259.09 12
Phillip Island 3 1 0 84 34 247.06 12
Garfield 2 1 0 29 20 145.00 8
Cora Lynn 2 2 0 67 50 134.00 8
Warragul Industrials 2 2 0 58 62 93.55 8
Kooweerup 1 1 1 48 45 106.67 6
Inverloch Kongwak 1 2 1 40 59 67.80 6
Kilcunda Bass 1 2 0 31 77 40.26 4
Dalyston 1 2 0 14 38 36.84 4
Bunyip 0 3 0 16 57 28.07 0
Korumburra Bena 0 3 0 15 66 22.73 0
UPCOMING FIXTURE
ROUND 4
Saturday 4 May, 2024
Kooweerup v Kilcunda-Bass
Bunyip v Dalyston
Garfield v Tooradin-Dalmore
Nar Nar Goon v Korumburra-Bena
**Cora Lynn, Inverloch-Kongwak, Phillip Island and Warragul Industrials played round 4 on Saturday 30 March.
