WYCHEPROOF-Narraport have claimed bragging rights over Nullawil with a 58 point thrashing of their merger partner on the weekend, dragging themselves to the cusp of the top four in the process.
After opening up a 19-point lead at quarter time, the Demons went on with the job in the second term, with a six goal to two quarter giving them a 49 point lead at the main break.
From there, Wycheproof-Narraport were never headed, with the Demons extending their lead in the second half on their way to an 18.13 (121) to 9.9 (63) win over the club who they will join forces with next season.
As good as the result was for the Demons, it was in equal parts disappointing from Nullawil, who missed the opportunity to open up a gap between themselves and the chasing pack in the race for fourth spot.
For Wycheproof-Narraport coach Wayne Mitrovic, the win was a much needed one ahead of another must-win encounter against third placed Donald this Saturday.
“That’s the first time we’ve had a win over Nullwail, so it was nice to get one on the board and it was very much needed in the context of the season,” Mitrovic said.
“It (their season) was starting to slip away from us a little bit and if we didn’t win on the weekend, the year was probably over for us, so we had a fair bit to play for.
“It’s such a tight season, especially with a couple of draws over the last two weeks. The key is going to be keeping a healthy list for the rest of the season, the teams that can do that will be really well placed going forward.
Nicholas Grabowski finished the afternoon with eight goals in an emphatic display from the small forward, who also spent large periods of the match running through the midfield.
The 58-point win was born out of a strong midfield display from the Demons onballers, with Grabowski joined by George Turner and brother Josh Grabowski in finding plenty of the ball and dominating around the clearances according to Mitrovic.
“Our clearance work was really good, our midfield were on top and won a lot of ball out of the middle and I felt that was the difference,” Mitrovic said.
“We had the ball going our way more times than not and we were able to lock it in our forward half which helped give us repeat entries and plenty of opportunities to hit the scoreboard.
“When they (Nullawil) got it forward they were able to score, with (Mitch) Farmer being dangerous and (Travis) Cloke there as well, but they couldn’t get enough ball in there to really hurt us.
“We defended really well and won the stoppages and clearances and gave ourselves heaps of opportunities to score ourselves.”
Mitch Farmer finished with five goals for the Maroons to be among their better players, with the key forward playing a lone hand up forward with Travis Cloke well held by Morgan Fawcett, with the former Collingwood and Western Bulldogs forward kicking just one goal for the match.
Also among Nullawil’s better players Daniel Watts, with the veteran Maroon a consistent ball winner around the contest, with Ben Brennan, Billy Forrester and Dude Kelly also named in the visitors better players.
With Matthew Wade, Matt Quigley and Dean Putt among several stars missing from their line-up on the weekend, Nullawil will have just seven days to recover before taking on ladder leaders Birchip-Watchem this Saturday, while Wycheproof-Narraport will also face a season defining contest when they host a Donald outfit fresh off a 57-point belting of Wedderburn.
Redbacks veteran Adam Postle played his 300th game in the red and black, with the Royal Blues spoiling the party with a 15.9 (99) to 6.6 (42) victory over sixth placed Wedderburn, who now sit two points below Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport on the ladder.
Joining the Redbacks on 14 points for the season is Boort, who brought St Arnaud back down to earth with a 96 point thumping at Boort Park.
The Magpies were never challenged, with an 11 goal to two first half ending the match as a contest before half time, with the home side going on with the job in the second half to record an 18.10 (118) to 3.4 (22) victory, with James Keeble kicking six goals for the winners.
The final match of the round also went according to the script, with Josh Jenkins kicking 10 goals for Sea Lake Nandaly in the Tigers 104 thrashing of Charlton.
Jenkins was unstoppable up forward, while Ryan O’Sullivan dominated the ruck in the 21.13 (139) to 5.5 (35) win, with theM continuing to nip at the heels of ladder leaders Birchip-Watchem as the North Central enters the second half of the season.
