by Nicholas Duck
Another week, another costly first quarter for Warragul.
Up against one of the league's juggernauts in Leongatha the Gulls were unable to arrest their trend of poor starts at Western Park, conceding five of the first six goals to leave them behind the eight ball early and never able to recover.
The 9.3 (57) to 15.14 (104) loss wasn't without its moments for the home side, who were able to get on a few runs despite never looking like a real threat on the scoreboard.
Leongatha were able to slice the Gulls up with their constant switching of the play, taking the ball from one side of the ground to the other and finding plenty of space.
With the home side struggling to keep up and keep accountable, it led to plenty of clean looks inside 50 - something a team as good as the Parrots won't waste.
Sean Masterson (five contested marks) fought hard under siege for Warragul, the intercepting backman stopping several Leongatha forays forward almost singlehandedly.
Riley Senini and Isaac Wallace were as hard at the ball as always while Sam Whibley enjoyed a good day in the ruck.
Young Alby Phillips again showed his wares and midfield bull Tom Hobbs rounded out the Gulls' best on a tough day at the office.
Leongatha boast plenty of quality around the field and that has only been added to this year with Benjamin Harding, who put on yet another masterclass.
Harding was an absolute ball magnet, racking up 47 disposals as he worked his way into the right spaces with 13 uncontested marks
Veteran Luke Bowman (28 disposals) was at his damaging best as Jenson Garnham (five goals) enjoyed his best day in front of the sticks this season.
The experience of Aaron Heppell and Cade Maskell kept their side ticking along and Travis Nash played a steady hand down back.
In general play the Parrots were just cleaner when it counted, moving the ball nicely on the outside and putting pedal to the metal when they broke clear to leave the Gulls in their wake.
Despite kicking the first goal of the day after a holding free to young forward Tom Stern, Warragul struggled to replicate that success thereafter, Leongatha rebounding out of their defensive 50 nicely to deny them time and time again.
Goals to Garnham, Heppell, Tallin Brill and Zavier Lamers got them off and running, before former Warragul under 18s star Patrick Ireland joined the party with a point-blank major off a spilled marking contest.
It's become a frustrating trend for the Gulls. In their two wins they've started out of the blocks well, but it's been the opposite in their losses.
Their quarter time deficits in defeats have been 34, 25, 31 and 20 points respectively. Hard to have much of a chance when you're chasing so much.
A free kick to Tom Hillard before the first break gave some hope for a Warragul comeback, as did a nice crumbing goal seconds after quarter time to swingman Lucas Carter.
A couple of missed opportunities had the margin back to an even two goals – the closest the Gulls would get for the rest of the day.
Two goals to Heppell and another to Brill got the Parrots' advantage back beyond 30 points at the half, before a pair of Garnham goals to start the third had it teetering into thrashing territory.
In what was Warragul's best patch of the day, however, they were able to end the third with four straight.
Brayden Fowler, Senini, Carter and then Senini again all found paths to goal, largely thanks to the Gulls finally being able to get it forward with some speed and give their players a chance at some even numbers.
It wasn't to last though, the Parrots responding after three quarter time through Garnham, who officially turned a haul into a bag with two more before full time.
Speaking post-game, Masterson said the Gulls needed to stop getting caught out on transition.
"We just don't work hard enough transitioning defensively. It's pretty clear what we need to work on," he said.
Masterson said the club were trying a number of different things pre-game to see if they can solve their first quarter problem.
"We've done a few different things in warm-ups because at the moment we're just not giving ourselves a chance. I'd love to be able to put my finger on it and say why we aren't starting well but we need to work through it."
Now two and four, Warragul are sitting in seventh and a game behind Morwell (fifth) and Bairnsdale (sixth).
If they want to keep in touch with the top five, next week's battle with Maffra looms as critical.
Playing at home, it's one of those 'should win' games they've let slip too many times in recent years.
Can this time be different?