North Warrnambool Eagles coach Adam Dowie is not content with how his side is travelling after scrapping over the line against an undermanned Koroit outfit.
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The Eagles came back from being four goals down midway through the third term to emerge with a 13.8 (86) to 12.8 (80) victory over the Saints on Saturday.
Dowie, who was happy to get the four points in his first encounter against a side he coached to three premierships from 2013-16, knows how much his side needs to improve if it is to beat a full strength Koroit.
"It's a bit different to last year they (the Eagles) probably would've lost it so at least there is a bit of belief for any situations we do have," the experienced mentor said.
"It was good for belief but in terms of how we played there is a bit of frustration.
"You can see why Koroit, even with so many not playing, have been such a good side they just controlled the ball for long patches of the game and we were just really reactionary.
"I said to our guys they were missing the two Dobsons (Sam and Ben), (Damien) O'Connor and (Jeremy) Hausler and we were about full strength so we just need to keep getting better."
The first-year Eagles mentor also has an injury concern to worry about following his side's hard-fought triumph.
"Tom James we are hoping its just a bad corky in his arm, which is best case scenario," he said.
"Worst case scenario he has a broke humerus. But I'm not sure how he is going."
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Koroit coach Chris McLaren said he is expecting his side to be nearly at full strength next week when it faces Cobden at Victoria Park next Saturday
Jeremy Hausler, Damien O'Connor and the Dobson brothers - Sam and Ben - all sat out the one-goal loss to North Warrnambool Eagles on Saturday due to injury.
The Dobsons and Hausler are expected to return after they were rested due to soreness after their interleague appearances last week.
Sam did not play in the Hampden league's victory over Ballarat last weekend after he was ruled out of selection in Jonathan Brown's final team due to a knock he received in the round five win over Portland the week before.
McLaren said he was confident the Dobsons and Hausler would be right to go against the Bombers.
"Sam got a corky before interleague and he pushed himself to get up for it and probably set himself back a bit," he said.
"He hasn't been able to train since he got that corky so we would assume he would be right next week.
"Jezza got a bit of knee on knee in the ruck (last week) so he should be fine. Damien has just got a bit of a hammy (injury) and he is not far away."
"There is nothing major but it has been the story of our year. We haven't been near full strength yet and I don't think we got any more injuries today."
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The two-time premiership coach was pleased with how his side adapted with the key quartet out of the line-up.
"We would've loved to have those four boys out there today and they would have helped us," the third-year mentor said.
"But we have been undermanned most games this year and against a side like Warrnambool, which we rate really highly, we were a bit poor with a few players out.
"Today with four or five A-grade players out the guys that came in they are all good players and the younger guys we had all contributed and it was a good even performance but we just couldn't quite get there."
McLaren said defence was king for both sides today with Dallas Mooney the Saints' best player along with Tim McPherson and Jack Gleeson, while Mitch Bowman, Bailey Jenkinson and Darcy Keast were the Eagles' stars.
"It was a close contest and defence was on top a bit more than offence for most of the day," he said.
"Mooney was outstanding, McPherson, Jack Gleeson, some of our defenders were terrific today it was an even game going no more than a goal (apart) most of the day besides our third quarter where we got away and they pulled it back."
The Eagles remain undefeated at the top of the ladder with five wins and a draw, while the Saints now drop down to fifth on the ladder with a 4-2 record.
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