Gulls go bang

by Nicholas Duck
Not a bad way to go out.
Warragul have put a nice full stop on a season of improvement with a commanding 41-point win over Maffra.
The Gulls were largely in control throughout the day despite some challenges from the visitors, before a four-goal-to-one final term saw them head into the off-season on a high, the final score 13.11 (89) to 6.12 (48).

Mitch Smart capped off a brilliant year on return from injury with another masterful performance in the ruck while also providing a target closer to home with two first quarter goals.
Four goals to Bayley Paul was his best return of the season, including several long-range bombs to keep his side rolling.
Riley Senini was damaging both around the forward line and through the middle while young big man Daniel Smart looked like he was finally finding his feet at senior level, more than holding his own in the ruck and allowing his brother to be more versatile around the ground.
Small forward Vinnie Caia's pressure was sky-high at times and Jesse Siddle held up nicely across half back.
In general the Gulls looked the more dangerous of the two sides, taking their chances at vital times to keep the Eagles at bay any time they threatened a comeback.
Despite being a dead rubber between two of the league's bottom teams the desire and pressure was there to see, particularly from the home side, who at their best were absolutely suffocating.
For Maffra recruit Henry Anderson led the charge, fighting admirably against a weight of Warragul numbers, as veterans Alex Carr and David Adams refused to give an inch.
Darcy Gray, Jonathan Boyd and Zach Felsbourg rounded out their better players on the day.
Despite some early territory for Maffra, it was Warragul who got the ball rolling in the first term with Riley Senini claiming a solid contested mark and goaling.
The Eagles struck back through Brayden Monk, before consecutive goals to Mitch Smart – a man not exactly renowned for his kicking – had the crowd up and about.
His first was especially notable, the ruck roving a marking contest and putting it through as footy's largest ever small forward.
A great intercept mark at half forward to Sean Masterson, who played the day in the offensive end, allowed Isaac Wallace out the back and opening up a buffer on the scoreboard.
Henry Anderson snapped a red time major to keep the Eagles in the hunt, clearly annoying Gulls senior coach Jed Lamb as he addressed his troops at quarter time.
The home side pressed their advantage in the second term, booting four more goals to Maffra's one.
Their advantage was largely built off the back of their intense pressure around the ball, forcing the Eagles into mistakes and then swooping when given the chance.
It was a style best exemplified by the final play of the quarter, as some excellent tackling saw Luke Garner pounce on a loose ball at 50 metres, running in a major as the siren sounded with Warragul 29 up at the half.
The third term was easily the Eagles' best for the day as, despite losing two players to injury, they slowly fought their way back into the contest.
Warragul didn't help their case at times, overusing the ball and being too cute by half.
The result was their lead being cut to a gettable 20 points at three quarter time – something that Lamb refused to cop.
The Gulls coach ripped into his players at the final change, letting them know exactly what he thought of their efforts.
For what it's worth, they listened.
Warragul went bang-bang to begin the final quarter, a distant set shot from Paul quickly followed by Caia putting through another moments later.
With Maffra tiring Warragul capitalised, dominating the forward half territory while their under 18s squad pumped up the tunes with a win all but assured.
Speaking post-game Lamb said he was pleased by his side's response in the final term.
"Our good's really good but we haven't earnt the respect to play sexy footy. We've got to do what works for us which is to play our role and stick to the basics which we went away from," he said.
"I gave them a rev up and they responded really well."
The victory, Warragul's fifth of the season, sees them improve on their three wins last year.
More impressively, their percentage saw a significant jump from 42 to 77 – something that speaks to how much more competitive they were this year.
In 2023 the Gulls lost 10 games by 50 points or more, six of which were by 90 or more, including one thrashing by 147.
In 2024 they went down by more than 50 just once, a 61-point loss to ladder leaders Leongatha away from home.
Not everything went right. There were games the Gulls were right in that they let slip and injuries to senior players like Tom Hobbs and Lamb left them lacking some experience.
Regardless, there's a lot more to be optimistic about at Warragul than there was 12 months ago.
Every rebuild needs to start somewhere and right now, the Gulls have taken some very good first steps.
"We've definitely improved," said Lamb.
"We know where we're at, we're realists, we're not in any fantasy land thinking we're going better than we are. We've got a lot of work to do but we're up for the fight that's for sure."