NORTH Ballarat Rebels are benefiting from the Hampden league’s reputation as a football breeding ground.
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Five of the Rebels’ top six players in their 39-point win over reigning premier Oakleigh Chargers hailed from the south-west.
Koroit trio Jarrod Korewha, James Gow and Willem Drew and South Warrnambool pair Hugh McCluggage and Shannon Beks were instrumental in the 13.15 (93) to 7.12 (54) triumph at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.
Rebels coach Gerard FitzGerald said AFL Academy product Korewha produced his best performance.
“He kicked a goal and played all day down back, so to be able to read the cues and get forward and be dangerous but at the same time not compromise his defensive mindset (was pleasing),” he said.
Two-time Koroit premiership star Gow has made a seamless transition back into the TAC Cup system as an overage prospect, named in the Rebels’ best in their first six matches. FitzGerald said the midfielder lifted when the pressure mounted.
“He kicked a really high-quality goal into the wind,” he said.
“He is having an impact, playing consistently well and every now and then he’ll produce something that is quite significant, something that really lifts the team.”
Drew, who played alongside Gow in the Saints’ 2014-15 flags, laid 14 tackle and Beks was the leading scorer with three majors.
“What we are seeing in him is improvement in his ability to get to the ball and influence the contest,” FitzGerald said.
