AN injury to number one ruckman Manny Sandow threw down the challenge to South Warrnambool first-gamer Jess Baillie on Saturday.
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Maskell Medal winner Sandow came off with an eye injury in the second quarter of the Roosters' 14.9 (93) to 4.6 (30) win over Portland at Friendly Societies' Park.
Baillie and Shannon Beks, who finished with five goals, juggled in the ruck duties in Sandow's absence.
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South Warrnambool coach Mat Battistello was pleased with his debutant's performance.
"He made a good contribution in his first game and being a developing tall, it's a bit more difficult than being a smaller player," he said.
"I think he would've been pleased with his efforts."
Football past and present collided pre-game.
Proud grandfather Les Baillie celebrated South Warrnambool's 1969 premiership reunion the same day grandson Jess made his senior debut for the Roosters.
South Warrnambool, coming off a five-game losing streak, was just one point up at half-time against a plucky Portland.
But the Roosters kicked 10 unanswered goals in the second half to reclaim winning form.
"The first half wasn't overly impressive," Battistello said.
"We played better in our losses than we did in the first half. The second half was back to the brand of footy we want to play. They applied themselves better."
Teenager Archie Stevens, captain Liam Youl and emerging defender Heath Brennan were singled out for their ability to contribute for four quarters.
Portland coach Tom Sharp took an undermanned side into the game and was content with the Tigers' effort.
"We tried to shut down their movement and did that effectively to half-time," he said. "We had a lot of blokes without senior footy experience and we weren't fit enough to run with them in the second half."
Sharp praised the returning Dylan Barr, who can play forward, for his application in the midfield.
"He was put in the midfield because we were without 'Harro' (Harris Jennings) and 'Shep' Aaron Shepherd," he said.
"He's a big body and balances us out a bit."
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