TOOLEYBUC Manangatang continued building its finals credentials with a big win over Nyah Nyah West United at Nyah on Saturday.
After a slow start to the season, the Saints have now squared their ledger and sit in sixth position on 2-2.
It didn’t take long for Brad Morris’ side to establish dominance over the Demons, who were coming off an impressive win over Koondrook Barham a fortnight ago.
But the sustained effort against the Raiders couldn’t be repeated, with the Saints ready from the first bounce at Nyah.
Early goals put Tooleybuc Manangatang in charge and the Saints never looked back, with forward dominance and 10 goal-kickers proving beneficial for the visitors.
Ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan was good around the ground, while the pace of Corey Kelly and Frankie Robinson was also handy.
The Dees, in contrast, had only five goal kickers with Adrian Knee managing a game-high seven goals, while the work of young stars like Brent Daniels and Zac Caccaviello was also pleasing.
The Saints were straight into attack after the opening bounce with Jack Morris marking and kicking truly.
Key forward Kayne McAlpine joined the action shortly after with another mark and goal, with Hayden Walters also getting in on the action for the Saints.
The Walters mark and goal followed a goal from general play for the Saints who dominated the first 10 minutes with three marks inside 50 producing three majors.
It was clear early on that the Saints would win the contest in the air with the Dees needing to find a way to prevent opportunities at ground level inside the visitors’ 50m.
Young guns were soon to get in on the action, with Darcy Spinks goaling for Tooleybuc Manangatang before Daniels added a major for Nyah Nyah West.
Daniels’ class was on display late in the quarter when he kicked into the man on the mark about 70m from goal.
Cleanly re-gathering the ball, Daniels sent his side inside 50m with a precise kick off-balance that hit Caccaviello on the chest.
Goals to Knee and Spinks rounded out the first term with a 23-point lead to the visitors.
There were some promising signs for United, with the home side moving the ball well at times but the Saints were pretty clearly in control.
Knee goaled again to start of the second term for the Dees, with two subsequent majors to the home side seeing the Dees back in the contest.
Another goal to Spinks wrested back the momentum for the Saints, with O’Sullivan kicking truly on the run from 60m shortly after.
Corey Kelly managed one after and the Saints were back in charge.
Alex Erlandson kicked a goal for United at the start of the second half, but Tooleybuc Manangatang was soon back on the scoreboard with consecutive goals before Walters kicked truly.
Consecutive goals to coach Brad Morris further emphasised the Saints’ dominance before Caccaviello kicked truly on the three-quarter-time siren.
The 54-point margin at the last change was an accurate reflection of the difference between the two sides.
The Dees moved the ball cleanly at times, such as when coach Jarrod Skinner found veteran Matt Curran who found Reggie Smith, with Owen Harrop and Erlandson rounding out the passage of play but unable to manage a mark inside 50m.
Tooleybuc Manangatang now turns its attention to Swan Hill next week, while United takes on Mallee Eagles.
For more on this week’s local footy grab a copy of The Guardian (June 1, 2015).
