SOUTH Warrnambool coach Nigel Kol has identified a round 13 defeat at Koroit as the trigger point for his side’s hot winning streak, which culminated on Saturday with a 50-point qualifying final victory against Terang Mortlake.
“We learnt a lot about how we could better ourselves that day,” Kol said of the 13.12 to 11.12 loss at Victoria Park.
The lessons were well heeded as the Roosters have won their subsequent six encounters, trampling Cobden (fifth), Warrnambool (first) and Terang Mortlake (second) in the process.
South has the best momentum of the finalists and the decisive manner of its victories against Warrnambool (39 points, round 17) and Terang Mortlake — 19.8 (122) to 11.6 (72) on Saturday — thrusts the young, up-and-coming side towards the forefront of an open premiership race.
It also creates a mouth-watering derby contest with Warrnambool in the second semi-final next Saturday.
The Roosters set up Saturday’s victory on a surprisingly firm D. C. Farran Oval at Mortlake with an eight-goal-to-two third quarter.
Holding a 7.3 to 5.4 half-time advantage, two early goals from James Hussey sparked South’s most dominant period of an otherwise evenly-matched contest.
Kicking to the southern end of the ground, the Roosters stretched their lead with the first four goals of the term.
The highlight came at the 17-minute mark when full-forward Billy Nicholls kicked his sixth goal after decisive lead-up play from midfielder Alistair Porter.
Porter started a move on the clubrooms wing, then pushed forward to link up again at half-forward, before delivering to Nicholls.
Although Nicholls didn’t take clean possession he was able to win the ball at ground level and get away a low, ground-level snap which rolled away from pursuing defenders with just enough pace to get over the goal line.
A goal against the tide from Tyson Densley couldn’t stem the flow as South poured on four of the next five goals to hold an unassailable 15.6 to 7.4 lead at the last change.
The Roosters had the luxury of resting Nicholls late in the period, leaving the goalkicking duties in able hands as Isaac Hughson and Toby Lee picked up the slack.
Nicholls was the standout in attack for the winners, troubling each of his opponents Trent Lenehan, Peter Moloney and James Reicha on the lead and when the ball spilled.
Hughson enhanced his reputation as an impact player with five goals, coming off the bench to create, defend and convert, while Lee also spent time on the pine between kicking his four goals.
Terang Mortlake’s key forwards Stephen Staunton and Josh Baxter were limited to a combined return of two goals by their opponents Joe Dalton and
Jarrod Thompson respectively.
Their opportunities were limited by some poor delivery and South’s willingness to chase and pressure the ball carrier.
Elusive small forward Densley picked up some of the slack with four goals and ruckman Xavier McKinnon kicked two when he pushed forward.
Among the few positives for the Bloods were their late surge, kicking the last three goals of the match, as well as quality game time for Joel Moloney, Pat Heffernan and Tom McKenzie in their return from injury.
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