by Nicholas Duck
The Gulls are off to a flier in 2025 after holding on for a wild and windy thriller of a one-point win over 2024 finalist Wonthaggi.
In an absolutely wild day weather-wise at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve the swings in momentum were equally as crazy before the Gulls were ultimately able to hang on 12.6 (78) to 11.11 (77).
Silky skills and precision kicking weren't exactly top of the agenda as a powerful wind favoured one end of the ground. You may have heard of a four or five goal breeze before. How about a seven-goal breeze?
After kicking with the wind in the first the Gulls had booted a scarcely believable seven goals to none to lead by 45 points at the first change of ends. Yes, you read that right. Seven goals.
But then it was Wonthaggi's turn to cash in as they struck back with their own seven-goal run to reduce the margin to just one at half time. Yes, you read that right as well.
Just one goal was kicked against the wind for the day, meaning if you'd gotten in for an early parking spot and picked the wrong end you may have been wishing you had binoculars.
A less than ideal third term had the Gulls in front by only 24 points headed into the last before they were forced to defend for their lives, dealing with inside 50 after inside 50.
Despite not registering a score for the quarter they were able to just barely pull it off, the siren sounding with Warragul in front by a single point.
It's the second time in as many years the Gulls have knocked off the Power in round one after they did the same last year.
It's worth noting though the match was one, a home game for Warragul and two, featured a heavily depleted Wonthaggi team that struggled to make much of an impact early in the year. This time it was a different story, and for Warragul a vitally important scalp as they develop.
Most of the work was done in the midfield as contested bulls Isaac Wallace (eight contested possessions) and Tom Hobbs (17 contested possessions) took no prisoners. They also found a partner in crime in recruit James Harrison (21 disposals), giving the Gulls a brutally tough group through the middle - especially with the welcome return of ruck Sam Whibley, who missed all of 2024 through injury.
Young forwards Tom Stern and Vinnie Caia (two goals each) were lively, as was up and comer Riley Senini.
For Wonthaggi big man Shannon Bray fought the good fight all day, as did Jye Gilmore and midfielder Joshua Bates. Superstar Ryan Sparkes (31 disposals) was a major factor, as were Jarryd Blair and Joshua Schulz.
With the wind at their backs at the first bounce, it didn't take long for Warragul to strike the first blow. A Power kick out of the backline landed straight into senior debutant Keenan Boi's hands as he manned the mark, the young goal sneak making his opponent pay as he sent it sailing through from just inside 50m.
It was an early sign the Gulls could do no wrong in the opener as they rained goal after goal, many from some ludicrous spots.
Boi especially wasn't done pumping up his highlight reel as he at one stage paddled a loose ball hard against the boundary line just inside 50 before picking it up, slipping a tackle and threading the needle from an absurd angle.
Wonthaggi could hardly make any territory when they had possession and as the Warragul midfielders ran rampant, the gale had the Gulls well on top. Nothing made that clearer than a set shot goal from Jack Casson, who launched the ball from inside the centre square only for the ball to almost clear the fence.
Come the second quarter, however, and the shoe was on the other foot.
Now it was Warragul struggling to make an impact as Wonthaggi launched their own onslaught, Joshua Bates getting them off and running with a major from the pocket.
By half time the Gulls had seen their lead cut to just one point as they knew they were going to need a big effort in the third.
The Power were out to make sure the sequel wasn't quite going to be like the original though.
While the Gulls clearly had the better of the term they only found five goals this time and even conceded the only goal of the day booted up the other end when Cooper McInnes found space to run one in.
Poor discipline didn't help the Power's case at times, like when a frustrated shove after a holding the ball call handed Tom Stern a 50-metre penalty and the easiest of finishes.
Still, the Gulls went into the final change of ends just four goals up – seemingly well short of what they would need.
As expected the Power came hard in the last though wasted some opportunities plus grim defending from the Gulls made life harder for them.
It wasn't until close to 30 minutes had expired that a snap from Jai Williams drew them to within two points with the Gulls holding on for dear life.
More than five minutes of tense football played out to finish the game in a fairly extended quarter it must be said. A late shot from Harry Dawson threatened to steal the game for the Power but it wasn't to be, the Gulls holding on for a famous win – not that they knew it at first.
It was a rather muted reaction from Warragul at first after there was some confusion as to whether the scoreboard was right or if the scores were actually level. It wasn't until the Gulls were assured that yes, they were in front, that they were able to finally celebrate.
Warragul senior coach Jed Lamb said it was "probably the best win I've been involved in since my time at the club."
"We've been involved in a few close ones against good teams without getting one. It was nice to get one to go our way," he said.
"In those last few minutes a minute felt like 10. I was just wanting the siren to go, like please just go already. I couldn't be happier. The belief it gives the young group is just huge."