Coach Trent Fiscalini is hoping that Saturday's match against fellow Mininera and District Football League finals' contender Wickliffe/Lake Bolac was the wake-up call that Moyston/Willaura needed as September approaches.
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While the Pumas won the contest by 35 points 13.16 (94) to 9.5 (59) the competition leaders were made to work, holding just a one goal buffer over the Magpies at halftime.
"I wasn't overly concerned, but I just didn't think we came to play in that first half and I was very surprised there was only a goal in it at halftime. To be honest we should have been down," Fiscalini said.
"To the boys' credit we went in, thought about the structures and what we needed to do and came out after halftime and actually played the footy that we needed to be playing."
Both sides were on the back foot even before the opening bounce with late withdrawals changing team dynamics.
Magpies' coach Nic Willox said he was happy with the way Wickliffe/Lake Bolac responded given the circumstances.
"I wasn't disappointed at all, we went into the game pretty undermanned, we didn't have a bench to start with so we had to pull a few twos' players up after their match," he said.
"We had a few injuries and a couple of late withdrawals which didn't help, but I think we came away from the match better than what we went into it.
"Everyone pulled their weight and played their part.
"I think turnovers was the main area that we lost it in during the second half. We didn't use the ball as well as what we should have and they capitalised on those chances."
Willox said despite Moyston/Willaura managing 29 scoring shots the backline fought hard all day, with joint-captains Tom Gibson and Charlie Archer along with Mick Blackburn, leading the charge.
For the Pumas, Josh Bywater again dominated in the ruck against quality opposition in Brad Keilar, while Jake Hamilton was good through the centre and Rhys Cronin took numerous strong marks in defence and ran and carried the ball well.
Fiscalini said the victory was a good lead in to this weekend's blockbuster clash against the second-placed Tatyoon.
"It was good to have the pressure and come up against a good side, but more than anything I think it was just a wake-up call to the boys and brought them back down to Earth a bit," he said.
“We’ll go out there (against the Hawks) as we do each week to win and get the four points, but at the end of the day we’re not fussed about winning games at the end of July-early August, we are more worried about what is going to happen once the regular season finishes.”
SM&W Rovers keeps on keeping on with its sixth straight win of the season — this time by 10 points over Caramut.
Andrew Toan led the way with four majors as the Bulldogs opened up a lead in the first half.
Coach Joe Carmody was named best afield for Rovers, receiving support from Nic Byrne and Jonathan Box.
The home side held a 25-point buffer at the final change, but the Swans pushed hard and threatened to take the lead late in the term.
In just his second senior match of the year, Lachie Fisher battled hard to hold off the Caramut surge, with Tristan Fay also standing tall in defence.
The 15.9 (99) to 13.11 (89) victory sees the Bulldogs a game outside the top five, but the side has plenty of percentage to make up in the remaining matches if they are to pull off an unlikely finals’ berth.
Speaking of percentage, Tatyoon’s rose by 29.04 courtesy of a massive 34-goal annihilation of the Ararat Eagles at Alexandra Oval on Saturday.
Ten goals from Kye Chapple elevated the talented forward into third position on the league’s leading goal kicker race, while team mate Steven Butler has broken clear atop the table thanks to his haul of nine.
The Hawks were relentless in their approach over the four quarters, piling on eight unanswered goals in the first quarter and a further six in the second to give them a lead of 83 points at halftime.
Mitch Cronin was dominant across the ground and seemed to find plenty of space and time to deliver the ball forward.
Cronin linked up well with Matt Williams and tall man Jason Cameron, while Damian Cameron and Zander McDougall also saw plenty of action.
Jarred Alexander kicked the Eagles’ only goal of the day in the second quarter, with Nick Bulger named the home side’s best for his determined effort in defence.
Also battling hard throughout was Nathan Wemyss, Ash Leggett and Daniel O’Connell.
Great Western fell short of its fourth win of the season, going down to Glenthompson/Dunkeld by 40 points.
The Rams got the jump on the visitors in the first quarter, opening up a 17-point lead at quarter time.
Both sides went goal-for-goal as the match progressed into the second term, with midfielder Lachie Malloy giving the Lions plenty of drive in the centre.
Up forward skipper Brett Dowie was providing a good target, along with Shannon Notting and Bobby Garley.
Six goals to three in the third quarter was the catalyst for Glenthompson/Dunkeld’s victory as the Lions began to tire and run out of legs.
Sam Cocks, Tom McCord and Rayne Salmon were Great Western’s other top performers in the 15.7 (97) to 20.17 (137) defeat.
In other round 13 matches Penshurst moved into equal third position on the ladder with a 34-point win against Hawkesdale/Macarthur, while Lismore/Derrinallum easily accounted for Woorndoo/Mortlake — 25.17 (167) to 4.12 (36).