By David Nagel
Kooweerup is set to challenge Warragul Industrials for the title of ‘best team outside the top-six’ over the next fortnight after the Demons produced a barnstorming finish to overrun the Dusties at Denhams Road on Saturday.
A dour-game was up for grabs at three-quarter time, before the Demons produced their only six-goal quarter of the season on their way to a 12.11(83) to 6.9(45) victory.
The Demons have had more downs than ups this season, but face the realistic prospect of winning their last three games and taking some real momentum into the 2025 pre-season.
The Demons won their opening game of the year against Dalyston, but then had to wait until round nine for their next success.
They went bang, bang, bang, defeating Korumburra-Bena, Bunyip and Garfield in quick succession, with Saturday’s win over the Dusties their fifth success this year.
Upcoming games against Dalyston, at Dalyston, and a final-round home game against Korumburra-Bena, provide the perfect opportunity of ending their season on a high.
The first half was symmetrically perfect from both teams, with Kooweerup kicking 3.3 to 0.3 in the opening term, before the Dusties returned fire with exactly the same result in the second quarter.
The Demons edged clear by eight points at the final break before producing its best output in 64 quarters of football.
Kooweerup had an even spread of goalkickers on the weekend with Ethan McDonald, Luke McMaster, Tim Miller and Nathan Voss all chiming in with a couple each, while Miller, Luke McMaster, Dale Alanis, Thomas Glen and Bailey Galante were among their better players.
The Dusties have now won just one of their last seven games and are limping to the finish line.
Lachy Braybon and Mason McGarrity jagged two each while veterans Shane Brewster and Shane Ingham chipped in with the others.
The Beck boys, Todd and Bailey, were best for the Dusties, while Brewster, Luke Walker and Thomas Commadeur were serviceable contributors for three quarters.
The Dusties stay home for their last two games of the season, against Cora Lynn and Garfield.
A nine-goal third quarter has propelled Tooradin-Dalmore to a convincing 21.14(140) to 3.7(25) victory over Garfield.
The Seagulls are in an enviable position right now; with its last three games against Garfield, Bunyip and Dalyston unlikely to cause them any headaches.
The Gulls used the hit-out against the Stars to blood two debutants, with Daniel Ahern kicking a goal on debut and Tyler Kirkbride also doing some nice things.
The Seagulls led handsomely at quarter-time, by 29 points, but were outscored by the Stars in the second term.
With their pride pricked – and ears ringing – the Gulls kicked into beast-mode in the third-stanza, kicking 9.3 to 0.0 to counter-balance their second-quarter lethargy.
Nick Lang, Anthony Mirauta and Piva Wright all booted four goals for the winners, while exciting talent Xavier Shinners contributed three.
Trent Adams continued his consistent form for the Gulls, while Lewis Hill, Andrew Proctor and young ruck Brody Campbell joined Mirauta and Lang on the best players’ list.
Aaron Marsh kicked two for the Stars, who had Jack Tenace-Greenall, Angus Emery and Jonty Bow in good form.
The Stars welcome Nar Nar Goon this week, before a last-round visit to Warragul.
The magnificent season of Phillip Island half-forward Billy Taylor has continued with his seven goals leading the Bulldogs to a thumping 27.13(175) to 7.8(50) victory over Dalyston.
Taylor has been the red-hot hybrid forward in the competition this year, now boasting 46 goals to sit second behind Cora Lynn champion Nathan Gardiner on the league goalkicking list.
The nimble forward bettered his previous best of the season on Saturday, with a six-goal haul, two fives and two fours, showing his class throughout the year.
The Bulldogs wasted no time asserting their authority, booting 10.1 to no score in a masterful first term.
Their dominance gradually faded throughout the afternoon, but they still managed their second-highest score of the season.
Hayden Bruce, Orlando Kane Gillard and Max Walton booted three each for the Doggies, while Tom Baulch, Jordy Patullo, Cam Pedersen and Travis Woodfield ended the day with two.
Jaymie Youle, Aaron Harris and Coby Olarenshaw were others to have an impact.
Hayden Wallis kicked three for the Magpies, while Kyle Kirk, Louis Armstrong and Brad Monson fought the game out well.
Phillip Island heads to Inverloch-Kongwak for a blockbuster round-17 engagement, while the Magpies host Kooweerup in a winnable game for both clubs.
Korumburra-Bena is finishing its season with real impetus after the Giants thrashed Bunyip by 85 points on Saturday.
Backing up its win over Garfield last week, the Giants slammed home 8.2 to 1.0 in the opening term on their way to a 18.9(117) to 4.8(32) success.
Remarkably the Giants had 14 goals on the board by half time, but the Bulldogs made a better game of it after the main break, losing 4.3 to 2.6 in the second half.
Tom Crocker was the star of the show for the Giants, booting six, while three to playing-coach Josh Hopkins, and two each to Kye Benson, Joel Cuman and Paul Fermanis contributed to triple figures for the Giants for the very first time this season.
Joel Cuman, Kye Benson, Jake Fowles and Tyson Findlay joined Hopkins and Crocker on the best players’ list.
Ben Wright kicked two for Bunyip, while Alex Dijkstra, Tahj Murphy and Ben Stewart never gave up the ghost.
The Giants host Kilcunda-Bass in a massive game for both clubs, while the Bulldogs head to Tooradin-Dalmore in a very tough round-17 challenge.
And Inverloch-Kongwak has overcome an early bout of the yips to score a 15.18(108) to 7.16(58) victory over Kilcunda-Bass.
The Sea Eagles had 14 shots at goal in the opening term, but left the door ajar by kicking 4.10 to 0.4 for the quarter.
Their 30-point lead was cut to 23 points at the major break, before an eight-goal-to-three second half put the issue beyond doubt.
Tate Short slammed home a season-best five goals for the Sea Eagles, while Tom Hams chipped in with three and Lucas Allen and Nick Baltas two each.
Ethan Park, Oscar Toussaint, Lachlan Scott and Jarvis Pryor were among the Sea Eagles better players.
Anthony Daraio kicked three, and Tim Gunn two for the Panthers, who had Nathan Foote, Dale Gawley, Travis Tuck and Jack Soroczynski stick things out after their first-quarter pumping.
IK host Phillip Island this week, while the Panthers will need to be at their best against an improving Korumburra-Bena.
