As a three-time premiership player with Cora Lynn Ryan Gillis used to love nothing better than rubbing the noses of Kooweerup into the dirt.
The Cobras convincingly defeated the Demons in the 2014 EDFL grand final; the first of three-consecutive premierships for the club.
And nothing seems to have changed after Gillis kicked the match-winner for his new club Korumburra-Bena to break Demons’ hearts once again at Denhams Road on Saturday.
A set-shot from Gillis at the 22-minute mark of the final term turned a five-point deficit into a one-point victory; the Giants winning 7.14(56) to 8.7(55) …taking the lead for the first time since the 16-minute mark of the second term.
Gillis spent five years at Somerville after his glittering career with the Cobras, building a cult following on the Mornington Peninsula before returning to Cora Lynn in 2023.
He spent a season with South Mornington last year, before connections built at Somerville with current Giants’ players Paul Fermanis and Bailey Nation lured him to the Korumburra Showgrounds.
Gillis has straightened the Giants up and given them a real presence up forward, with playing-coach Josh Hopkins and his team now nourished by three wins from their last six games.
The Giants came from nowhere in the final term, with Kooweerup kicking three unanswered goals – and five of the last six – to lead by 19 points at the seven-minute mark of the final term.
A wobbly left-footer from Tyson Twite appeared to have slammed the victory door shut.
But a goal to Jordan Ceppi and a great crumbing effort from Tom Crocker brought the Giants back in touch, with Crocker then having the ideal opportunity to tie things away after taking a strong mark on the goal-line.
He inexplicably had his kick smothered, leaving the Giants five points adrift with minutes left to play.
But a scuffle broke out before the resultant kick out could take place, with Gillis the beneficiary of a free kick roughly 35 out from goal.
The proven sharp-shooter nailed his attempt before giving a fist-pump to the Kooweerup faithful.
Those that have been around long effort; know what it represented!
Gillis was the only multiple goal-kicker for the Giants with two, while Guy Dickson, Lachie Smith and Zach Walker joined Ceppi, Hopkins and Gillis on the list of best players.
As for Kooweerup, well the Demons can’t take a trick right now.
They’ve lost eight on the trot and have just forgotten how to win a game of football.
Seth O’Hehir continues to blossom as a classy and mobile key-forward, booting three, while Matt Voss, Josh Bateman and Ethan McDonald gave everything they had to get their team across the line.
The Demons sit idle this week, with their second bye in 22 days, while the Giants host Inverloch-Kongwak in a game that all of a sudden seems appetising.
Who would have thought that at the start of the season!
Some second-quarter party tricks have inspired reigning-premier Nar Nar Goon to a 14.8(92) to 2.7(19) victory over Warragul Industrials at a blustery and cold Western Park.
Skilful footy was difficult, with a powerful wind blowing from the centre of the ground towards the netball court half-forward flank.
And Bob McCallum and his Dusties would have been satisfied – 10 minutes into the second term – with the Goon leading 2.3.15 to 1.2.8.
But then the party tricks began, with a Max McGreal off-break triggering a run of six goals in 16 minutes for the visitors
The pick of the bunch was a brilliant piece of play from Cooper Pursell, who intercepted an attempted defensive switch from the Dusties before dribbling one through from the boundary line.
Star-forward Dermott Yawney then got in on the act, kicking a spectacular goal off the ground and the Goon was off and away…leading 54-8 at half time.
Yawney kicked five for the winners and Pursell three, while Matt Gentile was also busy with two majors.
Skipper Trent Armour was the best player on the ground, racking up 38 possessions (20 kicks, 18 handballs) in a masterful midfield performance.
Draft-prospect Cody Templeton showed his class, gathering 32 touches (21 kicks, 11 handballs) for the Dusties.
A surge of brilliance from Adam Oxley has propelled Tooradin-Dalmore to a 13.12(90) to 7.8(50) success over Inverloch-Kongwak at Inverloch.
The Seagulls had only kicked five goals until three-quarter time, trailing by 14 points at the final break, before Oxley kicked the opening three goals of the final term to turn the game on its head.
Liam Adams, Shane Savage, Brad Butler and Cooper Bassett soon jumped on the bandwagon, the Gulls kicking 8.6 to no score in the final term to run out comfortable winners.
AFL-talent Oxley and Savage kicked three each for the visitors, while Piva Wright continues to present a strong case for Team of the Year selection.
Dylan Clark kicked two for the home side, while Cal O’Flynn and Taite Cumming were handy contributors for three quarters.
In other games this week, Nathan Gardiner continued his magnificent run of form, booting seven goals in Cora Lynn’s 11.9(75) to 3.3(21) victory over Kilcunda-Bass.
Gardiner now has 31 goals in three games and requires a further 23 in five games to make it three-consecutive visits to triple figures.
The Cobras have now won three on the trot, and should make it five with games against Dalyston and Korumburra-Bena on the horizon.
Heath Briggs won the coveted Lachlan Miceli Memorial Medal for his classy display through the midfield.
And two last-quarter goals from Lachie Schreurs have seen Garfield hold off a brave challenge from Dalyston.
Schreurs twice found himself loose inside forward 50, running into open goals to confirm a 10.11(71) to 8.8(56) success.
Goals to Rob Davey and Blake Carew saw the Magpies close to 10 points, 10 minutes into the final term, but goals to Schreurs, and a fourth from Mitch Johnson, saw the home-side hold on for its second win in three outings.
Matt Rennie and Eddie Morris were terrific for Garfield, while Kyle Kirk and Fraser West were rock-solid in defeat for the Magpies.
Phillip island had the round-15 bye.
