The previously winless Bloods set up the 15.21 (111) to 10.14 (74) result by winning the opening term for the first time in three matches this season.

They kicked 4.8 to 1.1 with the advantage of a strong wind at the Friendly Societies’ Park to put the home side on the back foot from the outset.

“It was probably our best performance of the season,” Irving said. “Overall it was really pleasing.”

But he was disappointed with his side’s inaccuracy in the opening term.

“4.8 to 1.1, if you turn that 10.2 the game is iced,” he said.

“Some of the shots we missed were sitters but we will take a win.”

Irving said the inaccuracy worried him but there was a positive. “At least we hit the scoreboard and we had that many scoring shots and kicked over 100 points, something we haven’t been able to do consistently.”

He said ruckman Steve Staunton dominated the hitouts and would have taken “20 contested marks” around the ground. His feeding of midfielder Jake Meade was important, with Meade having 13 centre clearances.

South Warrnambool coach Nigel Kol lamented a lack of mature senior players in his side and believed the scoreboard flattered the Roosters.

“There were times when I thought we played well and times when I thought we were lazy and gave them numbers,” he said.

“They punt on winning clearances and stoppages and running forward of the footy which exposed us a bit. We are just kids playing a man’s game. We just have to keep working with the kids and putting games into them and hopefully after six or seven more games we’ll be better.

“We just got beat around the stoppages.”

He said the Roosters needed star midfielder Nick Thompson back from an arm injury but they would not rush him.