Tim Hunt tries to stop Koroit's Ben Goodall from getting the ball moving. 120811RG43
MOST coaches are happy with just getting the four points but Scott Carter had many additional reasons to celebrate Warrnambool's 26-point win over Koroit.
"I'm happy for another six days," he said after the Blues' 10.14 (74) to 6.12 (48) win at Reid Oval.
Warrnambool, sitting a game clear on top of the ladder, stitched up a top-two finish on the ladder, with two games remaining.
"We are just happy we got through unscathed and we have the four points and we are still in control of our own destiny ," Carter said.
He said the form of his half-back line, including Angus Chirnside, Brad Bull and Tim O'Keeffe, had been the most pleasing aspect of his side's win.
O'Keeffe and Koroit power forward Sam Dobson (three goals) had a good duel, he said.
The form of skipper Dustin McCorkell and vice-captain Josh Walters also augured well for the run to the finals, he said.
Carter said the Blues set up the win in the first term when they kicked 4.5 to nil with the wind and restricted the Saints to just 2.3 in the second term.
But he said Koroit kept coming.
"There were times in the last quarter when it didn't feel like a 26-point game. To our boys' credit, they gutsed it out," he said.
Koroit coach Chris McLaren lamented his side's first half.
"They looked pretty good," McLaren said of Warrnambool.
"They were very clean but I was a bit disappointed with our first half.
"We didn't work enough to push to man up and they kick to whoever is free because their skill level is so good. We didn't work hard enough to close that gap. In the second half we did."
McLaren said the Saints kicked four consecutive points at the start of the last quarter with the wind, including two that hit the post, and got within 15 points at one stage.
"But they controlled the majority of the game. They were just a bit better in every area," he said.
McLaren said the Saints' defenders did well under siege in the first term.
"Our very best can compete with them all but we haven't been able to produce that for 120 minutes. We seem to have periods in games where we are pretty ordinary.
"We are clearly not the best team in the competition. We have to work harder than other teams. But if we win our last two games we will finish third."
The Saints were delighted with the form of captain Ben Goodall, who was dominant in the midfield.
He will have a big role again next week when the Saints host North Warrnambool Eagles in a blockbuster.
Koroit could regain the services of teenager Jaydn Whitehead from TAC Cup side North Ballarat Rebels, which has a bye, but Marty Gleeson won't return because he is playing with St Patrick's College in the Herald Sun Shield final at the MCG on Sunday.
grbest@standard.fairfax.com.au