By David Nagel
Tooradin-Dalmore has overcome an in-form Warragul Industrials at a wet and greasy Western Park to stamp itself as a genuine contender in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition this season.
The Seagulls started briskly, booting the opening four goals of the contest, before the Dusties displayed the ticker that had carried them to a 3-0 record heading into a star-studded Anzac Day clash.
The Dusties kicked six of seven goals, either side of quarter time, to take a narrow three-point lead to the major interval.
The home side was then struck a huge blow, with classy half-back Kuiy Jiath pulling his hamstring with the opening kick of the second half…robbing the Dusties of some much-needed drive through the middle.
The Seagulls pounced in the style of a good side, kicking the only three goals of the third term, before two early ones in the final quarter kicked the margin out to 27 points.
The Dusties, who have come from behind in their first three wins this season, then rallied, cutting the margin to 13 points at the nine-minute of the last…before the Gulls kicked four consecutive goals to end the game as a contest.
The Seagulls would eventually prevail – 15.9(99) to 10.8(68) – to keep their perfect start to the season intact.
After a week off, the Gulls certainly hit the ground running, with their three AFL stars; Adam Oxley, Matt Buntine and Shane Savage, playing together for the first time in the green, red and white.
But it was dynamic forward Brad Butler who put the first of the day on the board, capitalising on a poor exit from Tom Commadeur to blast one through from outside 50.
Panos Papas then kicked truly after a head-high free-kick, before Daniel Ahern finished off some great work from Nick Lang and Logan Downe to make it 20 points the difference.
Dusties coach Bobby McCallum and his team were then left scratching their heads, with Andrew Dean marking and goaling to make it a 26-point margin…21 minutes into the first.
The Dusties have shown great spirit and resilience this season…but even this looked a bridge too far to overcome.
But two late goals, both from strong marks, to Tom Cornwall, had the Dusties breathing a sigh of relief; turning just 15 points adrift at the first break.
Cornwall then struck again, two minutes into the second, before gun junior Cody Templeton slotted one from 25 metres out to make it a five-point ballgame.
Xavier Shinners then showed his natural talent for the Gulls, kicking a beautiful goal on the run, before the Dusties took the lead for the first time in the match with a strong finish to the opening half of football.
Bailey Beck marked and goaled, before Templeton cleverly waxed the Sherrin with Will McGillivray to kick one after the siren.
Templeton was proving dangerous around the ground, while Todd Beck and Will Gibson were having solid games through the midfield.
The Dusties looked on top; just three points ahead as players headed for the sheds at half time.
Things couldn’t have started any worse for the home side, with Jiath in obvious pain – clutching at his hammy – as the first 13 minutes of the second half turned into an absolute arm wrestle.
Rain pelted down at Western Park, making the ball slippery and conditions difficult to deal with.
But the Seagulls adapted better; keeping things simple and kicking the only three goals of the third.
Lewis Hill, once again having a great game for the Gulls through the midfield, found space in traffic to find Dean by himself in the pocket, before the remaining two goals of the third term both came in similar fashion.
The Dusties defenders pushed up and were caught out the back, with Papas and Dean finding space to dribble the margin out to 15 points at the final change.
With everything to play for in the last quarter, Tooradin exploded out of the blocks to take a stranglehold on the match.
Butler produced something special, but normal for him, kicking one out of the air in the first minute, before Xavier Shinners was allowed far too much latitude by his opposite number Luke Walker.
Walker received plaudits for his match-winning goal against Phillip Island last week, where he took a massive risk and it paid off, but this time it backfired with Shinners in a paddock of space just 30-metres out from goal.
Now 27 points down, the Dusties rallied as they usually do, but four straight goals from Butler, Dean, Savage and Piva Wright made it 37 points and ensured the main prize was heading back to Tooradin.
Dean ended the day with four goals for the winners, and Butler, Papas, Savage and Shinners two each, while Savage, Hill, Liam Adams and Downe formed the backbone of a ruthless midfield.
McCallum and his Dusties experienced their first taste of defeat but were more than competitive for large parts of the afternoon.
Cornwall kicked three, all in the space of six minutes of play, while small forwards Bailey Beck and Templeton chimed in with a couple each.
Defender Commadeur joined Todd Beck, Templeton and Cornwall on the Dusties’ best players’ list.
Tooradin-Dalmore face the ultimate challenge in the WGFNC this week, taking on Nar Nar Goon at Spencer Street, while the Dusties will enjoy a week off; allowing Jiath time to recuperate, having played their round four fixture on Easter Saturday.
The Dusties return to the fold on Saturday 10 May; hosting Korumburra-Bena at Western Park.
