By David Nagel
Old cliches that have survived the passage of time have done so for a reason and Tooradin-Dalmore will look to further legitimise an old saying when the Seagulls head to Nar Nar Goon on Saturday for a West Gippsland blockbuster.
For the last time this season two undefeated teams will play each other, with the Goon and Gulls the only two still standing in 2025.
For the Gulls the task is simple; well, the old cliché says so anyway…”to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
Of course, it will be a lot more complicated than that for Tooradin-Dalmore coach Jordan Kelly, who will attempt to end a 10-game winning streak for the Goon that dates back to 27 July last year.
The team that last beat the Goon was the Seagulls, on this very deck at Spencer Street, in round 15, 2024.
The Goon has since blossomed, winning its first premiership since 2010 and starting this year’s title defence in emphatic style.
New coach Matt Shorey has his team playing some exciting football, built on a stingy team defence that has coughed up just 129 points in three rounds of footy.
If the AFL ‘Premiership Window’ was currently translated to the WGFNC, the only three teams in the window would be the Goon, the Seagulls and Kilcunda-Bass.
However, the Goon is clearly the number-one ranked team for offence and defence, scoring 140 per game and conceding just 43.
The most fascinating piece of this week’s puzzle will be how the Seagulls AFL experience can impact this week’s contest.
Matt Buntine and Adam Oxley have this year been joined by Shane Savage and all three have already had a huge impact in the opening three rounds of the season.
Oxley brings flair from half back, Buntine is a great organiser around the ground, while Savage certainly lives up to his name with his fierce attack at the footy.
But this week he faces the ultimate test in West Gippsland; breaking down the Goon’s bulletproof vest; its shield of protection in Trent Armour.
Expect Armour and Aidan Pipicelli to gain midfield control and get the Goon across the line by 13 points.
In other games this week, Cora Lynn will beat Dalyston by 43 points at Dalyston, while Kooweerup should get the choccies in a hard-fought affair against Garfield.
The Demons showed promising signs against Nar Nar Goon last week and will get the job done by 21 points.
Inverloch-Kongwak, Kilcunda-Bass, Phillip Island and Warragul Industrials will enjoy this week off after playing their round=-four fixtures over Easter.
