Nirranda coach Brayden Harkness says it's good his unbeaten team still has areas to work on.
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The Blues mentor feels his group can improve its defence as it looks toward the final six matches of the Warrnambool and District league season.
Nirranda overcame another finals-bound outfit, Merrivale, 16.10 (106) to 9.5 (59) on Saturday at Nirranda Recreation Reserve.
Harkness felt the Blues didn't play their best but was pleased with the hard-fought victory.
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The Blues were down at quarter-time but turned it on in the second stanza.
"We managed to start winning the ball from the clearances and from centre stoppages," Harkness said.
"The first quarter, they had the ascendancy and we changed a few things and put the score on the board."
Nirranda opted to rest premiership midfielder John Paulin (hamstring) for another week with the bye around the corner.
Half-forward Max Primmer, who has kicked 18 goals this season, hurt his quad during the match.
Harkness said he wasn't sure of the severity of the injury.
"Obviously with the bye, he's got the chance to rest up," the coach said.
Recruit Nick Couch (Terang Mortlake) was immense against the Tigers, booting six goals and being named the Blues' best.
"He's incredibly reliable and a great target for us down forward, he showed his class," Harkness said.
"That was a difference in the end."
The coach said the club felt extremely lucky to have a player of Couch's calibre on board.
The Blues will hit the track this week.
"We'll train pretty normally, we don't want to take the foot off the pedal," Harkness said.
"Obviously have next Saturday to rest.
"Just coming back from (coronavirus) lockdown, we've had a few heavy games conditions-wise, everyone is looking forward to having a bit of break and resting up for the last six weeks and then finals after that."
Nirranda 2.3, 10.4, 12.7, 16.10 (106)
Merrivale 3.1, 5.3, 6.4, 9.5 (59)
GOALS
Nirranda : N. Couch 6, J. Spokes 5, J. Willsher 2, D. Willsher 1, S. Carlin 1, D. Lees 1
Merrivale : J. Neave 4, L. Byrne 2, B. McCutcheon 1, D. Scoble 1, M. Sandow 1
BEST
Nirranda : N. Couch, D. Willsher, J. Spokes, J. Willsher, L. Irving, R. Nutting
Merrivale : S. Barnes, J. Porter, M. Sandow, J. Neave, S. Gleeson, A. Campbell
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