By David Nagel
It was a weekend of WGFNC football that had absolutely everything.
Upsets, thrillers, and some major goal-kicking milestones were all a talking point, while back-to-back wins to Korumburra-Bena has thrown a real energy through the competition.
It was a huge night in Korumburra with the seniors, reserves and thirds winning their three games against Kilcunda-Bass by a combined total of 14 points.
But let’s start this week’s wrap with a visit to Cora Lynn, where the Cobras and reigning-premiers Tooradin-Dalmore played out an absolute heartstopper.
A late-goal to Collingwood premiership player Brent Macaffer iced the game for the Seagulls, who prevailed 10.8.68 to 10.6.66 in a cracking four-quarter contest.
The Gulls were on fire early in the first term, with Adam Oxley nailing the first of the match after some inexcusable lack-lustre defending from the hosts.
Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds then shimmied his way into an open goal, before Stewie Scanlon out-marked Lachie Peluso to have three on the board for the Gulls, inside 11 minutes of play.
Macaffer and Bertoli-Simmonds seemed to be everywhere, but the Cobras soon settled into a rhythm.
Jai Rout gave the home crowd something to cheer about, nailing a brilliant shot from in front of the Peter Parker Pavilion, before Dylan Paarlberg provided a quick answer for the Gulls.
Momentum changed late in the opening term, with Ryan Gillis snagging two majors; the first after marking on the run and the second a clever snap shot.
They were both celebrated with typical gusto!
Lewis Hill kicked the opening goal in the second, before the Cobras returned fire with six-pointers to Nathan Gardiner – after a Ray Lengyel slip – and Luke Hartley, who converted a head-high free-kick.
The Cobras were hanging on and trailed by just two points at the main break.
The return of gun-defender Luke Mckenna has provided Tooradin coach Lachie Gillespie with the ability to be more versatile in recent times.
On the weekend, he had team of the year defender Cooper Shipp play as a key-tall in attack, and his two goals in the third term would prove valuable.
Josh Cochrane kept the Cobras in contention, but a late goal – right on the three-quarter-time siren – to Brad Butler…gave the Gulls a 14-point lead heading into the final quarter.
And what a quarter it was…with some great goals and high-tension.
Gardiner kick-started the term with a goal from a free kick, before Bertoli-Simmonds nailed a classic goal, on the run from distance, to give the Gulls an eight-point advantage with eight minutes ticked off the clock.
The Cobras then snagged three in a row to take the lead, late in the final quarter.
The best off those came from a kick-out from full-back, with Cobras coach Shaun Sparks launching a long bomb into the square, which was marked by Jeremy Monckton.
The classy lefty then hit Tristan Warkuss on the run, who hit Gardiner lace-out in the goal-square.
It took 13 seconds to get the ball from the boot of Sparks, into the hands of Gardiner.
The star full-forward then kicked another off his left, before Luke Ryan gave the home side their first lead for the day at the 17-minute mark of a pulsating final term.
Macaffer then found space – on the scoreboard flank at Cora Lynn – to calmly slot the last score of the match.
Bertoli-Simmonds and Shipp snagged two each for the Gulls, who had eight players contribute to their 10 goals.
McKenna and Lengyel were solid in defence for the winners, while Connor O’Riordan joined Bertoli-Simmonds and Macaffer on a high-class best players’ list.
Gardiner finished with four for the Cobras, and Gillis two, while Tim Payne played a great game in defence on Julian Suarez.
Gus Da Costa continues to show his potential, with the gifted lefty providing some nice drive across half-back and through the midfield.
The Gulls host Korumburra-Bena this week, while the Cobs will look to hit back on a short road-trip to Garfield.
Phillip Island skipper Jack Taylor has filled his boots at the Cowes Rec Reserve with a stunning 10-goal haul against a disappointing Dalyston.
Only six players have scored more goals than Taylor in the history of the WGFNC, with his perfect-10 taking his tally to 143 from 81 matches.
Taylor has been used all over the ground this season, but enjoyed his time in the spotlight in the 29.14.188 to 5.4.34 thrashing.
The Bulldogs launched an impressive assault in the second term, kicking 12.1 to 0.0 in a devastating display of football.
It doesn’t matter about the quality of the opposition for Cam Pedersen and his team…they simply play their way and let the scoreboard look after itself.
Max Blake with four, and Travis Woodfield and Daniel Bourke with three each were also exciting for the Doggies, while Daniel Pearce and Hayden Bruce continued their impressive seasons.
The less said about the Magpies the better…but they need to fight back in a home game against Nar Nar Goon this week.
The Bulldogs make the long drive to Warragul.
Korumburra-Bena is about to confront a terrifying three weeks of football…but will do so with its confidence-tank full after a grinding 12.8.80 to 10.14.74 triumph over Kilcunda-Bass.
The Giants have now secured back-to-back victories after coach Paul Fermanis and the reliable Rhys Dixon proved an impressive force up front.
Fermanis and Dixon proved the difference against Bunyip last week, and were at it again on the weekend with four goals apiece.
Luke Walker, Jack Spencer and Tyson Findlay were also instrumental for the Giants, who drew level by half time and then kicked 5.2 to 2.3 in the third to take control of the match.
Anthony Daraio booted four goals for the Panthers, while Ben Eddy, Nathan Foote and Dale Gawley continued their consistent seasons for the vanquished.
The Giants head to Tooradin this week – then Nar Nar Goon a week later – before returning home to host Inverloch-Kongwak in round 17.
The Panthers host Kooweerup this week.
Star-forward Jason Wells has become the first player to kick 300 goals in the WGFNC with four majors in Kooweerup’s 37-point loss to Warragul Industrials.
Wells has had seasons of 50, 88, 57 and 74 goals since the inception of the WGFNC in 2017, with Saturday’s four goals taking this year’s tally to 31…to make it spot-on 300!
It was one of the main highlights for the Demons on the day, with Tim Miller playing his 150th senior game for the club.
But the Dusties proved party-poopers, particularly in the second term, with a 6.6.to 1.2 second term putting the issue of four points to bed.
Kyle Beveridge celebrated his first game since round nine with four goals in the 11.19.85 to 7.6.48 win, while Mason McGarrity booted three…taking his WGFNC tally to 101.
Kane Oldham was at his work-horse best around the stoppages, while Michael Debenham controlled the outskirts on his wing.
Mitch Cammarano fought things out for the Demons, while Zak Banks and Matt Drommel joined Wells and co on the best players’ list.
And Garfield has chalked up win number-four for the season with a thumping 19.13.127 to 5.10.40 victory over Buneep at Bunyip.
The Bulldogs must have had Indigenous round ceremonial smoke in their eyes in the first term, allowing the Stars to kick 7.4 to 0.2 to safely tuck away the four points.
Jahmain Harrison booted five for the Stars, adding to his two other goals for the season, while Ben Tenace-Greenall matched that total beside him.
Angus Emery, Zach Dalton and youngster Archie Burgmann were also impressive for the Stars, while Matt O’Halloran, Ben Stewart and the consistent Alex Dijkstra fought the game out for the Bulldogs.
The Stars will look to make it back-to-back wins when they host a rebounding Cora Lynn, while Bunyip will need to be resilient when it hosts Inverloch-Kongwak.
In the match of the round this week, Nar Nar Goon defeated the previously undefeated Inverloch-Kongwak by 18 points at Spencer Street.
A full review can be found on page 27 of this week’s Pakenham Gazette.
