ADAM Courtney's Cobden has played every Hampden league team this season and there is one he is putting his money on to lift the cup at season's end.
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"I believe Warrnambool are the best side in it," the first-year Bombers mentor said after his side's 26.13 (169) to 9.14 (68) defeat.
"They are going to take some beating later in the year. They have 10 blokes over 190 centimetres so when finals time comes around they are going to have strength in the air and are going to be a hard side to beat."
A majority of the Blues' height is up forward line with captain Sam Cowling, who is nearing a return from injury, Darren Ewing and Travis Graham proving a handful for opposition defenders.
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In the middle they have Dan Weymouth who gives the side's lively midfield brigade first use of the football and in the heart of its defence Sam Wilson, Alex Shipard and Jordy Foott prove tough match ups.
While Ewing kicked most of the Blues' goals on Saturday its the midfield-forwards who chip in when needed.
Austin Steere (three goals), Mitch Bidmade, Jed Turland, Damien McCorkell (two), Kurt Lenehan, Brad Bull, Jye Turland and Jackson Bell all hit the scoreboard in the 101-point win.
Cobden's injury run continued with Courtney confirming Luke Pekin did his hamstring for the second time this season during the warm up.
The 22-year-old, who will miss next week, will have scans to determine the full extent of his injury on Monday.
Warrnambool coach Matt O'Brien said captain Sam Cowling (hamstring) was a possibility to return to play Terang Mortlake.
O'Brien said his side was still eager to keep a solid run of form, which has netted five victories by more than 65 points, heading into the back end of the season.
"Like everything you are looking for consistency," he said. "You are looking for consistent effort to be consistently better and avoid peaks and troughs as much a possible.
"We've got a long way to go in our consistency. Concentration is one area. We want to focus on staying in moment for the whole game."
The second-year Blue said his side was adjusting to opposition tactics designed to stop Warrnambool's powerful forward group.
"We have to drop our eyes go for shorter with a target kick because if we go long it goes into a two-on-one," he said.
"The boys caught on quickly (to Cobden's loose men), which was good."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
