SOUTH Warrnambool coach Mat Battistello is optimistic a key piece to the Roosters' puzzle has avoided serious injury.
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Defender Harry Lee copped a knock to his lower leg during the Roosters' 18.12 (120) to 65 (41) win against Port Fairy at Friendly Societies' Park on Saturday.
Battistello said Lee played out the game but would have an x-ray. "We're hoping it's more nerve than a fracture or anything," he said.
"He is one of our most important players and a great leader of our back line."
The game was a tale of two halves. Port Fairy was happy with the first half and South Warrnambool content with its second-half performance.
The Seagulls were just 15 points down at the main break before the Roosters piled on 13 goals to three.
"The second half was more like the brand of footy we're trying to play," Battistello said. "We have been working pretty hard on our fundamentals and I felt we executed them better."
Shannon Beks kicked his six goals in the second half.
"He got back to playing to his strengths. The start of the season he's probably been below his expectations, and even in the first half on Saturday," Battistello said.
"He got back to doing what he does really well and when he does that he's extremely hard to play against.
"I thought Sam Kelly allowed him to get back to his best as well. They complemented each other really well."
Seagulls coach Winis Imbi said it was a mixed bag for his side.
"The second half was tough but the first half there were a lot of good signs," he said.
"We were happy with the way we took away South's strengths. On top of that we were able to act on feedback in terms of how we wanted to play.
"It would've been fantastic if we put some scoreboard pressure on but we weren't able to and unfortunately we fell away from that in the second half.
"These are growing pains we have to experience and navigate our way through."
James Imbi (sore), Jake Hamilton (ankle) and Darcy Smith (sore) finished the game on the bench for the Seagulls.
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