NORTH Warrnambool Eagles coach Adam Dowie admits he's been a hard taskmaster in his first season at the helm.
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Each week he could see areas the top-placed Eagles needed to improve.
Saturday's 18.15 (123) to 1.4 (10) win over Cobden at a muddy and wet Bushfield Recreation Reserve was the first time he watched his players put in a complete performance in their first 11 matches.
"I said after the game it was the first time for the year I felt everyone was on the same page," the six-time Hampden league premiership-winning coach said.
"It took the worst conditions to bring it out. Skill-wise, it was as good wet weather footy I have seen in a long time.
"We had 16 marks inside 50 by three-quarter-time, our ground ball and handball skills were good and we were still able to kick the ball around a bit.
"We got the balance right."
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Dowie said the weather conditions brought out "the best in everyone".
"It's funny how it took a game like that to do so," he said.
"A few people were saying it was pretty incredible how we played."
Dowie said the Eagles, who boast a 12-win, one-draw record entering the league-wide bye, had players who relished tough playing conditions.
He said he lost count of how many disposals Luke Wines had and was impressed with youngsters Lewis Holland, Harrison Sinclair and Sam Slattery.
Ruckman Ben Mugavin also received praise from the coach, as did utility Billie Smedts who returned from injury.
Former VFL-listed utility Sam McLachlan's class stood out too.
"He kicked a goal from 50 metres out from a stoppage and I reckon he picked it off the ground, a heavy ball, and drilled it on his left foot," Dowie said.
Cobden coach Adam Courtney, who played in the reserves because of a lack of numbers before taking his spot on the senior bench, said the Bombers struggled to match the Eagles' strength.
"They were cleaner and had bigger bodies around the footy," he said.
"They're very tall across the board and have six-foot-three midfielders.
"Our boys never gave up; they fight it out (every week) to the final siren."
The injury-hit Bombers got through the match unscathed but took precautionary measures with 50-gamer Jack Hutt who rolled an ankle.
Courtney expects to regain six players after the bye which will give the bottom-placed Bombers "size and experience around the footy and take pressure off the young blokes".
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