NORTH Warrnambool Eagles is hoping a breakthrough win has got its season back on track after thumping Camperdown at Leura Oval on Saturday.
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Last year’s grand finalists scored their first win of 2017, with a 19.14 (128) to 6.9 (45) result more reminiscent of the scorelines Hampden football fans had come to expect of the Eagles in the past 12 months.
Playing co-coach Rory Taggert led the way with a haul of five, while the returning Jordan Dillon proved a valuable focal point and finished with three majors for the afternoon.
“(Dillon) played at full forward and through the ruck. We were able to go long and direct to a big target,” Eagles co-coach Graeme Twaddle said.
“All our stats were stacking up okay (in the first two rounds) and generally last year, when we had those sort of stats, we’d been having it result in wins on the board.
“It was more, probably, our overuse of the ball and the way we were apply our game plans, just making a few little tweaks to that sort of stuff.”
The Eagles hit the ground running while cutting off Camperdown time and time again in the Magpies’ forward 50 to take a 22-1 lead into the first break.
They steadily built on the lead each quarter thereafter, booting five goals to two in the second quarter, five to none in the third and six to four in the last.
Twaddle praised the “bookends” of Dillon and full back Sam Doukas, who kept dangerous Camperdown key forward Jordan Bain goalless.
“I think he (Bain) had one shot on goal and missed it – that’s a pretty good effort from Sam Doukas,” the coach said. “He gives up probably four inches on him.”
Ben Fleming, who graduated from the under 18.5 competition at the end of last season, was best on ground for the Eagles, producing a strong game through the midfield.
Another young gun in defender Taylem Wason also put in a commendable performance, acquitting himself well with the job on Marcus Hamilton, while Adam Wines and Tom Batten continued on their strong form to start the season.
Tim O’Brien kicked a stirring goal and put in a “terrific” first-up performance in his first senior game in two seasons, albeit understandably starting to lag late in the contest.
Camperdown coach Phil Carse lamented his side’s inefficiency sending the ball forward after they scored just one behind in the opening term, despite winning the inside-50 count 15-11.
“We were certainly getting it, but our forward line didn’t structure up particularly well,” he said.
“We were really disappointed with our effort today (Saturday); just the intensity and the skills weren’t there.”
The Magpies were also dealt a few blows on the injury front, with Cam Spence suffering yet another hamstring injury at the start of the second quarter, while an ankle injury to Charlie Bradshaw saw the home side down a couple. Josh Bone was also a late withdrawal with a calf complaint.