by Nicholas Duck

That one's going to sting.
Garfield sunk to their most disappointing defeat of the season on Saturday in a 22-point loss to the previously winless Korumburra-Bena.
Coming to the Korumburra Showgrounds with a solid month of form, the Stars were ambushed early and were unable to work their way back from there.
The 8.10 (58) to 12.8 (80) defeat comes just one week after they put in one of their finest efforts in years, pushing second-placed Tooradin-Dalmore all the way and arguably only missing out on a rousing upset thanks to their poor accuracy.
The story was very different this time around, however, the home side coming out firing to boot six goals to one in the first quarter.
With the Stars offering little resistance the Giants enjoyed some of the best footy we've seen from them in quite some time and though the visitors eventually mustered a challenge, Korumburra-Bena held firm under pressure.
Jahmain Harrison ended the day as Garfield's best on an otherwise difficult day, working his way into the contest past quarter time to be one of the Stars' only winners in the midfield with several key clearance wins.
Will Cole and Lachlan Sauze competed strongly down back against some big bodies even when they were getting plenty of service from the Giants midfield.
Mitch Johnson continued to be a presence for the Stars up forward and further up the field when required, while young Noah Rogers continued to build nicely in the middle after a series of injuries.
For the Giants much of the day belonged to forward target Paul Fermanis. Fermanis benefitted from the presence of recruit Ryan Gillis alongside him. The distinctly recognisable tattooed key took enough attention away for Fermanis to cause some chaos.
His excellent marking and bodywork allowed him to finish the day on four goals but he could have easily kicked more.
Tom Crocker also punished the Stars with three early goals before settling into a role patrolling the half backline while the likes of Kodie Walker, Matt Borschmann and Kyle Brown all enjoyed excellent performances.
Garfield coach Eddie Morris flagged pre-game he was trying to avoid complacency in his group coming up against a team yet to taste victory in 2025. His alarm bells would have been ringing when Fermanis struck the first blow not even 30 seconds into the day.
Though Garfield hit back not long after, it didn't take long to recognise they were well off the pace.
To their credit, the Giants came to play. Korumburra-Bena were harder around the ball, spread for one another and making sure they took full toll on the Stars for their complacency.
If the GWS Giants have their trademark orange tsunami, the Korumburra-Bena version wasn't looking too far off it. Five more goals before the end of the term had them right on top and the crowd right in it.
Key to that was the attention they made sure to give Morris. The Stars coach must have felt like he was playing phone box footy as the Giants refused to give him space, recognising him as Garfield's most damaging ball user.
Morris pleaded for calm at quarter time, as well as some help around the footy from his midfielders.
An early 50 handed Giant Clayton Quaife the easiest of goals to start the second, followed quickly by a long bomb from Gillis to put the home side more than 40 points up.
Goals to Nathan King (CHECK) and Jake Van Den Berghe kept the Stars up and about, though a mark and goal to Fermanis on the stroke of half time kept the Giants well on top.
The third term was easily Garfield's best, the Stars finally winning the ball forward to give themselves a chance.
Mitch Johnson imposed himself and booted two goals, the second from a beautiful entering pass from his coach.
Garfield closed to within 20 until that man again, Fermanis, hit back courtesy of a push in the back free that left a few Stars players scratching their heads.
An early beauty to Lachlan Schreurs in congestion had the visitors again asking the comeback question early in the fourth, but it was too little too late.
Korumburra-Bena played the game out to perfection, killing the clock to secure a valuable four points.
It's a just reward for the Giants, who have been a much more competitive unit than in years gone by.
Speaking post-game, Morris said his team were "very, very poor."
"We didn't have a great week on the track on Thursday which I was a little worried about. We just didn't come prepared to play. Credit to them, they played some tough hard footy and got a sniff and got their tails up after that first quarter," he said.
"I reckon there was a little bit (of complacency). I think that shows from our Thursday night training, we weren't good and you play the way you train.
"We were poor defensively, we weren't hard in the contest. Just not a good day for the club."
The Stars will next face a resurgent Inverloch-Kongwak at home on Saturday.