The Seagulls, with the four points in their keeping, sent reliable defender Adam Farley forward in the last quarter of their 15.11 (101) to 6.12 (48) win over South Warrnambool at Gardens Oval.

The favourite son slotted a rare goal – the last of the match – to celebrate his 100^th senior game in style.

Farley, one of only two current-listed Seagulls to reach the milestone, was mobbed by his teammates who understood the importance of the occasion.

“It was great to get a goal. I hadn’t kicked a goal for probably about two years now, so it was great to get a goal and everyone get around me,” he said. 

“I think it is a great personal achievement for myself (to reach 100 games) but it’s a good for the club as well to start getting people to play 100 games and stick around the club.

“I think there’s a few more coming next year so it would be great for the club to get more players like that.”

The triumph – the Seagulls’ eighth of the season – puts the Brett Evans-coached side a game clear of the chasing pack.

“It was great to get a win for the 100^th game and it was a crucial win today for the boys really to cement their spot in the five hopefully,” Farley said. 

“I think the boys just need to look after their bodies and hopefully we can just keep notching up wins in the last few games and cement our spot in the finals and have a real crack this year.”

Evans praised Port Fairy’s efforts against the wind.

The Seagulls kicked seven of their 15 goals into the breeze in the first and third quarters. They slotted 3.0 to the Roosters’ 2.5 in the opening term. 

”It was such a strong wind. I probably looked at it at least a six-goal wind, so to be in front at quarter time set us up,” he said.

“The second quarter we were disappointing. We went off our game plan completely – just because we had the wind we thought we could get it on the boot and boot it long. It just showed you can’t do it, you’ve still got to have the control.

“We used it a lot better in the last quarter but again, against the breeze in the third quarter, was as important as the first quarter.”

Evans praised Jackson Hollmer, who kicked three goals, defensive brothers Josh and Dylan Gunning and midfielder-forward Guy Phelps for their efforts.