By David Nagel
Perseverance and hard-work are finally paying off for the Garfield Football Club after the Stars cashed in a second-consecutive victory over Kilcunda-Bass on Saturday.
Just a week after Eddie Morris and his boys survived a nail-biting finish down at Dalyston, the Stars produced a more emphatic performance to steamroll the Panthers by 33 points – 11.5(71) to 5.8(38) – in their most impressive display for the season.
Jed Pinkerton, Mitch Johnson and Matt Rennie kicked first-quarter goals for the Stars to open up a two-goal lead at the orange break, and things continued to roll on from there.
The Panthers kicked an early one in the second term, but the home side replied with goals to Lachie Schreurs, Johnson and Jake Van Den Berghe to snare a 21-point lead at half-time.
Kilcunda-Bass gave everything it had in the third term, but an early goal from Morris – a brilliant snap from stoppage – kept the victors at arms’ length for the entirety of the second half.
Additional goals to Johnson, Rennie and Jack Tenace-Greenall were followed by the last of the match from Will Pickering after some great set-up play by Jahmain Harrison.
The strong presence of Johnson was important for the Stars on a blustery day, while Rennie was also important as a key option at centre half forward.
Johnson kicked three and Rennie two to rubber-stamp their impact on the contest.
The Stars are looking more and more confident as the weeks tick by with the big bodies of Will Cole, Cooper Reilly and Zac Soutar also important in the victory.
Brad Aldwell, Nathan Foote, Trent Cartmel, Lochlan Scott and first-gamer Dylan Susic were impressive for the Panthers, who badly missed the midfield drive of Dale Gawley and Travis Tuck.
The Stars head to Cora Lynn this week in what now appears a winnable game, while the Panthers will look to bounce back at home against Kooweerup.
On paper, they appear the two tightest games of round eight.
A stunning nine-goal opening burst has propelled Phillip Island to an even 100-point victory – 19.15(129) to 4.5(29) – over a young and undermanned Inverloch-Kongwak at Inverloch.
The Bulldogs had the advantage of a strong breeze blowing towards the netball court end of the ground in the first term, and put the spinnaker up, surging to a 9.4 to 0.1 opening onslaught.
Coach Cam Pedersen was totally dominant in the ruck; back to the form of his first two years in the WGFNC when he claimed back-to-back league medals.
The great play of Pedersen ensured the ball lived in the Doggies’ forward line in the opening term; and his teammates certainly cashed in.
Young gun Yianni Caffieri was also everywhere in the opening exchanges, kicking three first-quarter goals from an intercept and then two classy right-foot snaps on goal.
Charlie Bruce kicked two in two minutes towards the end of the opening stanza as the Bulldogs kicked five in red-time to ensure the four premiership points were heading home.
An early goal in the second quarter to Billy Taylor saw the margin explode to 64 points; two minutes into the quarter.
Jo Nowell provided the home crowd with some brief joy, answering with two goals off his left foot, but a goal to Max Walton – his second for the match – would see the margin sit at 56 points at the major interval.
Despite the assistant of a stiff breeze, the Sea Eagles won the second quarter by a solitary point!
The second half was about building percentage for the Bulldogs, who kicked 8.9 to 2.1 after the break to rubber stamp their dominance on proceedings.
Caffieri booted four for the winners while three each to Taylor and Walton showcased their impact on the contest.
Pedersen was sensational for the Bulldogs, while Hayden Bruce, Jaymie Youle and Jordy Patullo joined Caffieri and Josh Ryan on the best players’ list.
Inverloch is hardly recognisable from the premiership team of two years ago with several stars having left the club and many others injured.
Quality players such as Oscar Toussaint, Ethan Park, Dylan Clark and Toby Mahoney were sitting on the sidelines on Saturday through injury.
Nowell made the most of limited opportunities, ending the day with three, while Lewis Rankin, Clint McCaughan, Jarvis Pryor and Joe Soumilas played better football after an overall sluggish start to the game.
Things don’t get any easier for the Sea Eagles, heading to a rebounding Warragul Industrials, while the Doggies – now in fifth position – welcome Dalyston to the Cowes Recreation Reserve.
Tooradin-Dalmore is currently sitting pretty in second place on the ladder after the 2022 champions gave Kooweerup a 56-point touch up at Denhams Road.
The Seagulls had unanswered runs of three, four and five goals throughout the match as they marched their way to a 12.15(87) to 4.7(31) victory.
Brad Butler, Trav Davis and full-forward Andrew Dean had three on the board inside the first 15 minutes before Zak Banks and Josiah Farrer cut the margin to four points at quarter time.
The Demons suffered a massive blow early in the second quarter when superstar Nathan Voss was carried from the ground after copping a savage blow from the knee of Dean as the key forward flew for a mark.
Voss was in obvious pain and the entire WGFNC community wish him well with his diagnosis after the heavy impact to his lower back and ribs.
Tooradin kicked the only four goals of the second term, through Butler, Nick Lang, Davis and Jack Flannery to take total control of the contest at half time.
Kooweerup cut the margin slightly in the third, but a 4.6 to 0.3 final term gave the Seagulls a comfortable win on enemy turf.
Dean finished with four goals and Butler three for the Gulls while two each to Davis and Lang provided a plethora of options moving forward.
Jehi Esler, Jesse Craven, Piva Wright, Cooper Bassett and Kris Sabbatucci were among the better players for the Gulls, while Ethan McDonald, Matthew Voss, Zak Banks and Nathan Muratore stuck to their guns for the Demons.
The Seagulls welcome an improving Korumburra-Bena this week while Kooweerup will look to rebound quickly at Kilcunda-Bass.
And Nar Nar Goon continues to take no prisoners, thrashing Warragul Industrials by 82 points at Spencer Street.
Matt Shorey will be thrilled with the consistency of the Goon across four quarters, with four, four, five and six goals a quality return against a team that should play finals this year.
Dermott Yawney kicked five and Tex Marsham three, while two each to Trent Armour, Harrison Brain and Nate Pipicelli led the Goon to a 19.8(122) to 6.4(40) success.
Skipper Armour was sensational for the Goon while Ryan Bromley, Max McGreal, Jake Smith and Aidan and Nate Pipicelli were too good for the Dusties around the ground.
Jeremy Monckton, Goy Lok, Kyan Willis and Michael Debenham were best of the beaten brigade.
The Dusties host Inverloch-Kongwak this week while Shorey and his premiership favourites sit idle with the bye.
