Warrnambool captain Sam Cowling did just that in a third-quarter masterclass on Saturday.

The key forward played smart football on a wet day not conducive to tall targets.

He played in front and reaped the rewards.

Cowling kicked four of his six goals, including a soccer special from the boundary, when Warrnambool needed a point of difference in the third quarter against Terang Mortlake.

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Until that point the Bloods had matched their more-fancied opponents on their home deck at Reid Oval.

The Bloods were within five points at half-time and were playing inspired football which belied their two wins from 10 outings this Hampden league season.

Enter Cowling. The Blues kicked seven unanswered goals in the third term and 13 to one in the second half to run out 19.19 (133) to 7.4 (46) winners at a rain-swept Reid Oval.

The skipper praised midfielders Mitch Bidmade, Damien McCorkell and Jye Turland shifting the momentum in the middle the Blues' way.

And he captialised on their hard work in the clinches with a soccer goal from the pocket the best of his four third-term majors.

"I have never kicked one off the ground before in my life," Cowling said.

"I am getting a bit older, the hamstrings are hit-and-miss now so I didn't really want to bend down and pick the ball up, so I sunk the boot into it and was happy to see it through.

"I think the old boy (dad) is pretty keen on getting the footage because I won't do that again."

Cowling returned to the side after overcoming a hamstring injury and felt comfortable.

"It was a bit of a slow start, it was hard to take a few marks with the wet conditions but it was good to run around, get a couple of knocks and feel apart of it again," he said.

Cowling's leadership partner, vice captain Jye Turland, was also influential in the victory, which brought the Blues' win-loss tally to 10-1.

Turland kicked three goals, along with Darren Ewing and Austin Steere, as he added another strong display to a career-best season.

"He deserves everything he gets, just the way he trains, he's the first here all the time," he said.

"He just gives 100 per cent. It was great to see him in interleague and do well in interleague and his four games as captain (in my absence) he won every one.

"He provides a good example for the younger guys."

Warrnambool coach Matt O'Brien echoed Cowling's thoughts.

"Every element of his game has improved," he said.

"He's super fit, his tackling pressure is excellent, his disposal is first-class, his attack on the footy is as hard as anyone and his finishing off with goals and goal assists," he said.

"He sets high standards for himself and drags others along, he's in the gym before training and he's early on the track and he's very, very hard on himself."

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