WARRNAMBOOL and District is celebrating back-back interleague triumphs after prevailing by five points in a thriller against Mid Gippsland.
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Last-quarter goals to James Keane and Sam Gleeson, and some desperate defending late, were enough for the representative side to post a 9.8 (62) to 7.15 (57) win at Morwell on Saturday.
Key-position utility Luke Duncan was best-afield for the visitors while young gun Tyler Hillier, a Gippsland Power-listed player, earned the honours for the hosts.
Duncan was immense throughout. He started at centre-half-back, went forward with effect in the third term when his side kicked with the wind and moved back into defence in the last.
He was not alone. Darcy Lewis excelled at centre-half-forward, a performance which will further enhance his reputation. Alister Porter was at his classy best while Paddy Mahony rose to the occasion.
Few, if any, Warrnambool and District players were passengers. Even those who were quiet produced telling moments with the match in the balance.
Luck also played a role in the result, in a big way. Mid Gippsland had several opportunities to win the match in the dying stages but couldn't kick the goal needed to regain the lead.
In a major case of missed opportunity, its last five scoring shots were behinds, four of which came after Gleeson's off-the-ground effort put Warrnambool and District up 9.7 to 7.11.
The most glaring miss was its last, a set shot from about 30 metres out after Lewis turned the ball over coming out of defence.
The moment proved match-defining. Warrnambool and District somehow escaped out of its defensive 50 from the resultant kick in and launched an attack. The siren sounded soon after.
Keane and Justin Wallace, who tireless all day, led the goalkicking with two each. Rick Spokes, Porter, Duncan, Lewis and Gleeson were the other goal kickers.
Others to impress were Rhys Raymond, particularly in the first half, and onballers Nathan Forth and captain Leatham Robe. Early indications are the 22 who took the field emerged injury-free.
Tim Phillips led the goalkicking for Mid Gippsland with three and ruckman Dylan Farrell kicked two. Hillier, vice-captain Julian Blackford and Joel Bragagnolo were their best.
Captain Adam Bailey, the reigning Gippsland league best and fairest, suffered a shoulder injury, a setback which also factored in the outcome.
Meanwhile, Mid Gippsland was too strong in the under 18 curtain raiser, winning 12.14 (86) to 7.4 (46). Mason Lardner earned the best-afield medal, with Justin Fedley leading the way for Warrnambool and District.