LAST season’s runners-up Donald have put themselves firmly back into finals calculations, with an upset 12-point win over premiership fancy Nullawil at the weekend.
Despite missing several key players, including Ross Young and Ryan Hards, the Royal Blues proved too strong as they extended their lead every quarter to run out 9.14 (68) to 8.8 (56) winners.
After two losses from their first three games, Donald have turned around their season with three straight wins and now look a genuine threat to ladder leaders Sea Lake Nandaly.
The two teams will meet for the first time this Saturday in a King’s Birthday weekend blockbuster.
Donald coach Rohan Brown was full of praise for his team’s four-quarter performance, where their defensive effort proved decisive.
“The game was played between the arcs a bit, I thought we defended them really well, they’re a side that loves to switch the ball, use the width of the ground and come back through the middle and we halted their ball movement really well,” Brown said.
“We tried to slow the ball down as much as we could and let our backs set up in front of (Mitch) Farmer and (Andrew) Oberdorfer, which helped us slow the game down.
“The midfield battle was even for much of the day, but I felt we got on top through there at the start and then again late in the game – our boys just won the big moments.”
Josh Potter was strong in the ruck for the Royal Blues and had a tough battle against Nullawil ruckman Dean Putt, with both players named among their sides’ better players.
Jesse Wallin and Dyson Bell-Warren were also among Donald’s best through the midfield, while Ryley Barrack’s run off half-back also proved crucial.
Patrick Kelly and Jordan Humphreys provided plenty of run for the Maroons off half-back and tried their best to turn the game in Nully’s favour, as did Lucas Caccaviello, Billy Forrester and Andrew Casey.
Opposing spearheads Mitch Farmer and Sam Dunstan ended the day with four goals each, and Ryan O’Shannessy’s effort in keeping Nullawil key forward Andrew Oberdorfer goalless was important.
While Donald have seemingly found their feet, the challenges will only get bigger against the undefeated Tigers.
But while Sea Lake Nandaly are undoubtedly the form side of the season so far, that is of little concern to Brown and his team.
“We’re not far away and we’ll just keep having a crack, we’re playing with freedom at the moment and that’s a great place for us to be in as a team,” Brown said.
“We’ll just go out there and give it everything we have – they’re the best side in the competition for a reason, but if everyone contributes, there’s no reason why we can’t knock them off.”
While Donald will go into the match full of confidence, so too will Sea Lake Nandaly, who accounted for Wycheproof-Narraport by 33 points on Saturday.
The 9.13 (67) to 5.4 (34) loss was the Demons’ third in four matches and saw them tumble from the top four for the first time this season.
The Tigers were well served by Jack Poulton, Trent Donnan and ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan, while Gedd Hommelhoff continued his good form to lead the way for Wycheproof-Narraport.
The remaining games in round 7 went to script, with Birchip-Watchem claiming a 51-point win over Boort, while Wedderburn kept their finals hopes alive with a 62-point win over St Arnaud, with Sam Barnes and Tom Campbell each kicking four goals for the Redbacks.
