MILDURA look to have claimed the No.1 contender title in the push for a finals berth after seeing off near rivals Wentworth at Brian Weightman Oval.
While the scrappy contest more resembled homemade moonshine than champagne football, the Demons’ third consecutive victory has them in clear fifth place ahead of a mightily important clash with South Mildura this weekend.
A four-goal haul from Jack Bower, including three in the final term, helped snuff out any chance of a late Roos revival as the Demons came home by 27 points.
Former Wentworth captain Josh Dean was outstanding in the clinches while on-loan duo Brady Rowles (Essendon VFL) and Finn Ellis Castle (Bendigo Pioneers) also impressed.
Rowles showed plenty of dash that saw him rookie listed by Sydney, although his disposal did leave a little to be desired.
Demons co-coach Anthony Matthews said it was an important win ahead of clashes with South, Imperials and Irymple over the next three weeks.
“We set ourselves this week knowing that Wentworth and South are probably vying for that fourth spot with us, so it was really important to get the job done today and the boys played well to get the four points,” he said.
“No one took real advantage of the wind today. It wouldn’t have been a great game to watch. It was scrappy at times but we were probably lucky enough to kick four in that last quarter and run away with it.
“He (Bower) he’s been fantastic, not only today but for the season. He’s a real livewire up forward and for a small guy he cracks right in. He’d be a hell of a bloke to play on because he doesn’t shut up all day, but we were pleased he could get on the end of a few today.”
With the loss of Regan Cavallaro to injury last week, Matthews said it was handy to have Ellis Castle return during a Pioneers bye.
Josh Martin was on the sidelines still and is targeting a return against Imps in two weeks.
It took 16 minutes for the opening goal of the match to come through Mildura’s Kane Dawson after earning a holding-the-ball free, before Jordan McKinnon returned fire a few minutes later with a magnificent snap from the pack at distance.
From that point, however, it was 8.5 to 3.7 as the Demons held sway.
Without the injured Wade Hancock, Wentworth started Nick Cottrell forward, opposed by Ellis Castle, but the versatile Roo was often forced further up the ground to get himself involved in the game.
With more than half-a-dozen players with less than 10 games of senior experience in the line-up, Wentworth just lacked that cutting edge when experienced and cooler heads prevailed.
Nick Jensen put in an outstanding ruck shift, although his younger counterpart, basketball convert Brodie Townsend, also earned plaudits from his coach for his efforts. The Cottrell cousins and Cambell Davison used their explosiveness to try and create opportunities, however the Dees were well set in defence.
While Mildura face South at Sarah Oval this week, Wentworth are home to Ouyen United.
MILDURA 9.8 (62)
WENTWORTH 4.11 (35)
GOALS:
Mildura: J. Bower 4, C. Lando 2, J. Dean, M. Healy, K. Dawson.
Wentworth: J. McKinnon, N. Cottrell, J. Carter, S. Mason.
BEST:
Mildura: J. Dean, J. Bower, C. Lando, F. Ellis Castle, D. Murphy, B. Townsend.
Wentworth: N. Jensen, N. Cottrell, J. Carter, C. Davison, J. Cottrell, J. Nunan.
THREE THINGS WE LEARNT
JACK FLASH: When the game was there to be won in the final term, it was crafty forward Jack Bower who put the icing on a tasty cake with three goals. Bower has had a terrific season for the Demons and boasts an innate goal sense, proved by a fantastic half-volley that wouldn’t been out of place at the Euros. My only complaint is he doesn’t wear the No.24.
HAMSTRUNG HANCOCK: I could only imagine how frustrated Wentworth coach Wade Hancock would have been not being able to play this game. Sidelined with hamstring issues, the Roos goalkicker certainly could have made a difference as his side sent the ball forward often enough, but perhaps just lacked some direction and structure. Windy conditions made it a tough day for leading forwards however, evidenced by Demon Anthony Matthews barely getting a sniff.
DIFFERENT TIME ZONES: In recent weeks there seems to have been no time wasted following the end of reserves games before the first bounce of the seniors. Curiously, before this contest, with players and officials on the field at just after 2.15pm, they were forced to wait around and even had to extend their warm-up for about 10 minutes before the siren was blown. I’m still none the wiser as to why the delay.
