By David Nagel
Finals fever came early to Western Park on Saturday with Warragul Industrials overcoming Cora Lynn in a sometimes feisty battle between two premiership contenders this year.
The Dusties eventually prevailed by 18 points, with two late goals to the Cobras bringing a 10.13.73 to 8.7.55 respectability to the scoreboard.
Cora Lynn coach Shaun Sparks made three changes at the selection table on Thursday night, with Billy Thomas, Brady White and Sparks himself, all making way for Corey Brook, Liam Taylor and first-gamer Kade Perkins.
The Dusties were without prime-mover Will Gibson for the first time this season, with Kyle Staples, Luke Walker, Mark Bradley and key-forward Josh Eyre also missing from the Dusties win over Dalyston last week.
Ben Northover, Kane Oldham, Matt Herbert, Sam Russell and Thomas Cornwall all returned to the side.
Cora Lynn kicked the first of the match, via a brilliant dribble kick from Jeremy Monckton, before Mason McGarrity and Jackson Mockett – right on the quarter-time siren – returned fire to give the home side a seven-point advantage at quarter time.
Things began to liven up in the second term, with Cobras fire-brand Josh Cochrane doing his best to get under the Dusties skin.
A solid tackle on Dusties winger Michael Debenham kick-started the angst between the teams, which carried on for the remainder of the match.
The second term was a roller-coaster ride as players from both clubs tried to outdo each other for goal of the day honours.
Nathan Gardiner began the scoring in the second quarter with a set shot at goal, before Kyle Beveridge found himself in way too much space in the Dusties front half.
Gardiner then delivered a beautiful kick from the boundary, chalking up goal 94 for the season, before Debenham kicked a remarkable check-side goal from deep in the Dusties forward pocket.
Hayden Spierings then answered back for the Cobras, piercing the big sticks from the boundary, before Nic Visser kicked a goal from long range to give the Dusties a six-point lead at half time.
Heath Briggs then opened the scoring in the third, and when Liam Taylor proved deadly – 27 minutes into the third – the Cobras had taken back the lead for the first time since early in the opening term.
Cornwall then answered, with another goal after the siren, to give the Dusties a three-point lead at the final change.
Cornwall’s goal would begin a run of five unanswered goals for the Dusties, with McGarrity kicking the opening two of the final stanza.
On both occasions he was the beneficiary of some great work from Visser, who found him by foot after four minutes of play and then set the scene for McGarrity’s third with a ferocious attack on the ball.
Kane Taylor then kicked another, and when Adrian De Sando chipped one through from the top of the goal-square…after a 50-metre penalty…the Dusties were 29 ahead and looked home.
Late goals to Briggs and Gardiner then cut the margin in the dying minutes of the contest.
McGarrity ended with three for the winners, while Visser was superb in traffic and Travis Ogden was effective in Dusties game 100.
Bailey Beck and Ben Nichol were serviceable contributors throughout, while Kyan Willis did a great job of blanketing the dangerous Ryan Gillis in the Cobras forward line.
The Cobras mid-sized players kept them in the game, with Nathan Villella, Tristan Warkuss, Spierings and Briggs all playing quality football, while key-tall Matt Ryan did a great job of filling in for Thomas.
The Dusties round out their finals preparations with a trip to Garfield, while the Cobras head to Kooweerup with Gardiner needing just five goals to become a century goal-kicker.
All other games went as expected this week, although Nar Nar Goon was forced to pull its finger out after a slow start against Kilcunda-Bass.
The Panthers led by 17 points at quarter time, but 8.5 to 0.3 in the middles quarters of the contest gave the Goon total command.
Troy McDermott and Nick Bransgrove kicked three each for the Goon, while Aidan Pipicelli and Sam Blackwood showed their considerable class.
Anthony Daraio was once again superb for the Panthers with four goals, while ruck Dale Gawley all also a valuable proposition around the ground.
In other games this week, Kris Sabbatucci, Stewie Scanlon and Cooper Shipp all nailed three goals each in Tooradin-Dalmore’s 18.14.122 to 6.3.39 victory over Garfield, while Will Turner and Tom Wyatt booted four each in Inverloch-Kongwak’s 119-point drubbing of Korumburra-Bena.
Remarkably, the Sea Eagles kept their opposition to less than 25 points for the eighth time this season.
Cam Pedersen kicked four, and Cam Brown and Jack Papas three each, in Phillip Island’s 104-point thumping of Kooweerup, while Dalyston kicked the sweep in a 28.20.188 to 2.5.17 dismantling of Bunyip.
The Magpies had seven multiple goal-kickers, with Blake Carew leading the way with seven, Hayden Wallis six and Brayden Duve four, while Mason Storr slotted three in a classy left-footers performance.
The Magpies dictated play all day, but cashed in particularly in the third quarter…booting 11.4 to 0.0 in a lethal premiership quarter.
Dalyston heads to Korumburra-Bena this week, with victory likely to secure a seventh-place finish this season.
