Dusties done in by Goon
by Nicholas Duck
Accuracy kept Warragul Industrials fighting against Nar Nar Goon on Saturday but wasn't enough to topple them as the Dusties went down swinging by 26 points.
The Dusties were much cleaner than the two-time reigning premiers in front of goals though the visitors enjoyed the weight of numbers, creating more than enough chances to keep the Industrials at bay.
Warragul Industrials had their moments during the 10.5 (65) to 12.19 (91) defeat – the Goon had many more.
And despite their inaccuracy in front of the sticks the day only ever looked like it was going one way as Nar Nar Goon gears up for another premiership tilt in a few weeks.
The Warragul Industrials midfield in particular found themselves on the wrong end of the clearance battle, with the visitors at their hard-edged best.
Goon forward Dermott Yawney proved to be a real difference maker on the day, booting five goals to lead all comers.
Bailey Beck kicked four for the Dusties.
Best on for the home side was Todd Beck, whose sure hand with the ball held him in good stead under immense pressure.
Regan Awty put on one of his best performances of the season since returning from injury five weeks ago while big man Damian Leslie played solidly in the absence of coach Bob McCallum, who missed due to calf soreness.
Midfield hard nut Boadie Motton went toe to toe against the Goon's vaunted engine room as Campbell Gibbons and Matt Herbert did well. The Stokoes were everywhere for Nar Nar Goon, both Tylah and Trent, to lift their team when required.
Yawney was unsurprisingly named in his side's best, as were midfield warriors Aidan Pipicelli and Jake Smith as well as Clancy Pope.
The teams went blow for blow in the opening term, each kicking two goals until Jack Gribbin scored a late one to give the Goon some separation and reward for effort, having kicked 3.5 for the term.
An early major to Bailey Beck in the second had the home crowd wondering if they might mount a challenge, though that hope was short-lived.
Nar Nar Goon went bang bang bang, putting through the final three majors of the quarter to open up a 23-point lead at the half.
Yawney extended that advantage not long into the third term from point blank and suddenly the deficit was an imposing one – even if Nar Nar Goon's kicking kept it from being an unimpeachable one.
The Dusties fought gallantly, closing the gap to 18 at three quarter time, but when Yawney opened the fourth quarter just as he had the third, it seemed apparent a comeback was not on the cards.
With Inverloch-Kongwak having the bye this weekend the Goon are set to head into finals as a deserved number one seed and will be the team to beat come finals.
Warragul Industrials has now finished one of the more brutal three-week stretches you're likely to see and will travel to play competition strugglers Dalyston on Saturday.
