JUSTIN Nowell and Brad Williams are quickly establishing themselves as one of the dominant forward pairings in the Warrnambool and District league.
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The Allansford recruits kicked 14 goals between them in the Cats’ 24.22 (166) to 6.6 (42) victory against Deakin University at Allansford Recreation Reserve.
Nowell finished with eight majors — and kicked about as many behinds as goals — while Williams booted six to lead their side to a third win of the season.
They were particularly influential after half-time, when the Cats banged on 15.12 to 3.2 against an opposition side missing Aidan Bourke and Trent Anderson.
The two key forwards have kicked 26 goals — 14 for Nowell and 12 for Williams. Their collective tally ranks third in the competition.
Merrivale’s Jet Dowie and Brad Kelly have combined for 38 goals while Dennington’s Chris Keilar and Alex Pye have managed 37 between them.
Allansford coach Josh Parkinson said his new-look forward line was “a continual work in progress”.
“You’ve got two new recruits into the side. Once they start working out where each other leads and when to go and when not to go, we’ll be better for it,” he said.
“We opened it up a fair bit more in the second half. They were able to find some space and we were able to deliver it to them, which was pleasing.”
Parkinson was also pleased with Nick Johnstone (three goals), Sam Holloway (one) and Adam Ryan who were also influential in the big win.
But he said the Cats didn’t seriously take control of the contest until late in the second term. A four-quarter performance is still proving elusive.
“We’re inching up towards that three-and-a-half, four-quarter game but we’re still not there yet. We didn’t click into gear until just before half-time,” he said.
“The week before we played a quarter-and-a-half. We might’ve played a half yesterday.”
A serious shoulder injury to Parkinson was the only negative to emerge for Allansford.
The coach, playing for the first time since recovering from foot surgery, lasted less than a quarter before rupturing an AC joint ligament.
He was waiting to hear back from a doctor yesterday whether he would require surgery but faces a stint on the sidelines.
For Deakin University, James Crawford was its sole multiple goalkicker with two, while Luke Fronsko, Courtneay Hobbs and Yarran Curtis were best.
The Sharks won their first match but have dropped their past three and face Kolora-Noorat, Old Collegians, Merrivale and Panmure in the next four weeks.
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au