An eight-goal to one first-term onslaught helped the Blues dismantle Portland on Saturday and lift them to within a six points of the Hampden league top five.

O’Brien said “a lot of cohesion in the team” was the catalyst for the 16.6 (102) to 5.8 (38) win at Reid Oval.

“Our back six is quite settled and that makes a huge difference and it’s the same with our onballers,” he said.

“Our back line unit was terrific. They had their fair share of inside 50s in the first half for not many goals. It was well led by Will Jacobs at full-back.

“Our midfield was consistent in particular Darcy Graham who got first hands on the ball and did a lot of hard work in the packs.”

Sam Cowling kicked four first-term goals to set the tone for Warrnambool and Kurt Lenehan, who spent a stint on the sidelines with broken ribs, returned as a late replacement for the ill Wil Fleming.

Portland stand-in co-coach Rhys Egan fielding a young side was no excuse for the Tigers’ poor opening term.

”It was very disappointing,” he said.

“It happens in games where good teams get run ons and we didn’t have the answers to stop it.

“To the young guys’ credit, we put it on them at half-time. We didn’t want to walk away and be completely embarrassed by 100 or 120 points, and that’s the way it was looking at half-time.

“We made a bit of a contest out of it.”

Egan said two teenagers – Tom Hernan and Zane Barker – were shining lights for the Tigers.

“Tom was up forward. He’s only 18, skinny but tall and presents hard and takes marks,” he said.

“Zane played a defensive forward role and after quarter-time I thought he played quite well.

“It’s a tough position to play.”