NORTH Warrnambool Eagles is a well-oiled machine.
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The Bushfield-based side can feel the connection between defenders, midfielders and forwards as it eyes another finals series under coach Adam Dowie. Slick ball movement featured through the Eagles' 101-point thumping of Terang Mortlake on Saturday.
It capitalised to notch up 38 scoring shots to 12 and ran rampant in a dominant final term. "(They) came out after half time and got within four goals and probably kicked three or four pretty quickly," he said. "That was full credit to them and we expected them to respond. I think we spoke about putting together four quarters. We haven't felt like we've done that.
"I think the pleasing aspect was that when Terang were able to put the goals on the board, there were probably some clearances but nothing glaringly obvious but good play from Terang Mortlake."
Captain Adam Wines and goalsneak Jarryd Lewis booted four apiece.
Dowie said his side's ability to link up meant its ball movement was a feature.
"We feel like our defenders are connecting well with our middies, and our middies are connecting well with our forwards," he said.
"It was really good bringing Lewis Holland, Billie Smedts and Tom Batten - just three strong guys who play good contested footy.
"Our defensive pressure, our tackling pressure was really good as well. There's probably a couple of aspects but when you don't play well or the opposition plays well against you, you find out areas of your game you're not great at.
"I think we've been reviewing that pretty well and guys are pretty aware of what we do well and what we need to work on. We did some work on defending around the contest this week.
"Part of it is also ball movement and that connection was really strong."
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