NYAH-Nyah West United were far too good for an undermanned Koondrook-Barham combination on Saturday with a polished display enabling them to run out victors by 74 points at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
While the game never reached great heights as a contest, the Dees will be happy to have had two strong wins in a row.
The Raiders were hit pre-match by injury and illness with experienced players Jacob Barrington, Colin McVeigh and Pat Goble all missing from their line-up, limiting their on-ball strength.
The Demons, however, were strengthened by the appearance of ex-Darwin recruit Dylan McLachlan for his first game of the season, bolstering their midfield stocks.
The opening term was scrappy, with both half-back lines on top early. The Dees’ full forward Brent Arho opened the scoring with a goal when he found space after midfielder Zac Caccaviello spotted him up beautifully five minutes into the contest. The Dees were doing all the attacking in the first term, dominating contests all around the ground.
NNW United coach Corey Daniels and fellow onballers Matthew Duffy and Caccaviello were running riot. Goals to Arho, Alex Erlandson, Caccaviello and Jason Manning were countered only by a great snap goal from Dwayne Weetra for the Raiders, with the Dees holding a 29-point lead at the first change.
The Raiders’ new coach Darren Troy told his players that they had to lift their intensity to get back into the game. Daniels, while pleased with their promising start, demanded his charges hit their targets when they had possession.
In the second term the Demons again dominated around the ground and across half-back. Erlandson kicked an early goal from deep in the forward pocket and Duffy followed up minutes later after receiving a spearing pass from McLachlan. A clever snap goal by the diminutive Jaspar Wilson-Keir for the Raiders gave them a little reward for effort. Late goals, however, by Caccaviello and Jarrod Skinner blew the margin out to 40 at the long break.
In the third term the Dees played their best football, with Daniels displaying his class across half-back and continually hitting targets up the field.
This helped Arho boot three goals for the quarter on his way to six for the day. Arho’s leading was impressive as he continually made front position, taking several strong marks in front of his direct opponent Reagan Hamilton. McLachlan also dominated out of the centre and Jason Manning was a fine contributor on the wing during this term. For the Raiders, the better players were brothers Lucas and Jordan Iudica, defender Max Baldissera, Jack Shannon and livewire Blake Watts, who continually sacrificed his body in contested situations.
The last term was the Raiders’ best as they booted four goals. Troy had asked his players at three-quarter time to fight the game out and they responded well. Two goals by the talented Kye Attwell, a long bomb from the stoic Warren Lolicato and another clever snap by Wilson-Keir gave the Raiders supporters something to cheer about in what had been a tough day.
The Dees have now put together two good wins and they will be hungry for their third in a row this week against Swan Hill. The Raiders will hope that some of their injured players are back in their line-up to bolster their stocks when they host the in-form Woorinen combination.
VOTES
3 – Corey Daniels, NNW United
2 – Dylan McLachlan, NNW United
1 – Brent Arho, NNW United
MATCH RESULTS
NNW UNITED 5.6 8.7 13.11 17.12.114
KOONDROOK-BARHAM 1.1 2.3 2.3 6.4.40
GOALS – NNW UNITED – Brent Arho 6, Alex Erlandson 4, Zac Caccaviello 2, Brady Davidson, Blake Larkings, Jason Manning, Jarrod Skinner, Frank Violi 1.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM – Kye Attwell, Jasper Wilson-Keir 2, Warren Lolicato, Dwayne Weetra 1.
BEST – NNW UNITED – Dylan McLachlan, Corey Daniels, Jason Manning, Zachary Caccaviello, Zack Threadgold, Brent Arho.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM – Max Baldissera, Jack Shannon, Lucas Iudica, Jordan Iudica, Rylan Attwell, Kye Attwell.
