By David Nagel
The switch forward of one the best defenders in West Gippsland football has paid handsome dividends for Kooweerup after the Demons produced a brave second-half comeback to score a 10.10(70) to 9.6(60) victory over Dalyston.
The Demons looked in all sorts of trouble at half-time, 20 points adrift of a Dalyston outfit that was being inspired by a 10-year reunion of its 2015 senior premiership side.
With Hayden Wallis on fire up forward and Ben Lewis, Joe Alexander, Mitch Hallahan and Kyle Hutchison in fine form around the ground, the Magpies looked all over winners at the main break.
But a 4.3 to 1.1 third term from the Demons tied things away, leading to a drama-filled final term.
With one goal already to his name, Kooweerup star Tim Miller set his Demons on the path to victory with two early last-quarter goals.
Miller first received a head-high free kick and a 50-metre penalty to take him to the top of the square, before nailing a set shot after a perfectly timed lead from the square.
Miller’s goals, at the four and six-minute marks, propelled the Demons to victory.
Dalyston’s hopes were diminished when Tyson Andrighetto was sent from the field for rough play, but it couldn’t stop the home side from making one last push.
A clever right-foot snap from Cale Love-Linay cut the margin back to a kick, before experienced Demon Nathan Muratore made the crucial play of the final term.
Muratore nailed a great set shot from the boundary after a great piece of tenacity to stay involved in the contest.
Brady O’Toole answered late for the Magpies, but the Demons celebrated hard after the epitome of a hard-fought victory.
Muratore and Miller ended with three each for the winners, who had skipper Nathan Voss produce a match-winning performance.
Voss had 32 possessions, took nine marks and kicked two goals, while new-recruit Billy Rolfe was also influential with 27 touches.
Josh Bateman, Trav Bindley and Mitch Cammarano also racked up possessions through the midfield.
Wallis ended the day with four goals for Dalyston, while Hutchison, Love-Linay and Hallahan can hold their heads high in defeat.
Bobby McCallum is off to a winning start as coach of Warragul Industrials after the Dusties held on for a 13.10(88) to 12.8(80) victory over Garfield.
Nothing much separated the teams all day, with the Dusties taking a six-point lead to the final change.
Eddie Morris and his Stars looked set for a magnificent round-one victory when Jake Van Den Berghe and Ben Tenace-Greenall kicked the opening two goals of the final term in the first five minutes of play.
Goy Lok then got the Dusties back in front with an opportunistic nudge from the goalsquare, before key forward Tim Hancock settled the issue with a goal from point-blank range.
Hancock finished with three for the winners, while Bailey and Todd Beck were magnificent four-quarter contributors.
Morris led from the front for the Stars, who had Mitch Johnson and Van Den Berghe kick two each.
And an even team performance has guided Kilcunda-Bass to a 96-point thumping of Korumburra-Bena at the Showgrounds.
Trent Cartmel, Brody Connelly, Nathan Foote, Dean McRae and Travis Tuck all kicked three goals for the Magpies in the 23.12(150) to 8.6(54) rout.
Nick Besley rammed home three for the Giants, while Kyle brown and Jayden Deas fought a good fight to the bitter end.
