NYAH-Nyah West United blew the finals race wide open on Saturday, with an impressive 47-point win over Lake Boga.
The Demons dominated the opening half in every facet of the game, registering the first nine goals on the back of intense pressure around the contest and electrifying speed.
It wasn’t until the shadows of half-time that Lake Boga scored their first goal, when Dustin Burns snapped across the body – before Lochie Laing kicked a second a minute later.
By that stage, the damage had been done, with NNW United leading by 42 points, an advantage they were able to maintain in the second half to win 16.12 (108) to 9.7 (61).
United’s fifth win of the season keeps them well and truly in the hunt for finals, just one win outside the top five in seventh, but with a superior percentage to the fifth-placed Magpies.
Corey Daniels and Jaydyn Stirling also returned from injury, with both having a significant impact at either end of the ground for NNW United.
Daniels played as a permanent forward and, despite being in unfamiliar territory, was a constant threat as a marking target for the fleet-footed Demon midfielders, while Stirling roamed the defensive half, winning countless possessions to be perhaps best on ground in the first half.
NNW United’s ability to not only run and carry the ball, but link up by hand through the corridor at frenetic pace proved unstoppable for Lake Boga, who tried desperately to lock their opposition down around the contest, to no avail.
The one advantage the Magpies had, especially after Nick O’Neill went off the ground with concussion, was in the ruck – however even with Jacob Simpson feeding Lake Boga’s onballers at the stoppages, the Demons controlled the stoppages, particularly in the first half.
To their credit, Lake Boga started to turn the tables after half-time, winning their share of clearances through Daniel Dzufer and Jake Warren, but the home side were still able to nullify the influence of Simpson through the combination of Alex Erlandson and Campbell Everitt.
Ethan Saville, Charlie Boulton, Nick Threadgold, Dom Gallo and Brayden Bigham ran in waves, splitting the Magpies apart with the leg speed and spread from the contest in what can only be described as an all-in attacking game style.
Kayne Davidson found plenty of the football through the midfield, but the Demons’ small forwards created plenty of headaches with their ability to not only find space, but apply pressure.
Riley Daniels was sensational in the forward half, with his four goals and attack on the footy having him as one of NNW United’s better players, along with key defender Joel Walsh, who proved almost impenetrable at half-back in another solid four-quarter display.
While the Demons couldn’t have been more impressive, Lake Boga were far from disgraced, never throwing the towel in as they tried desperately to get back into the contest.
Lachlan Burns, Matt Taverna and Marty Parsons were strong in defence, while David Gourdis also helped to change the momentum somewhat when he was swung behind the ball after half-time.
Lincoln Sieben found plenty of the ball, along with Warren, Dzufer and Lochie Laing, but in the end, there was simply too much left for too few for Lake Boga, especially when there were no passengers wearing red and blue.
The only negative, apart from the head knock to joint coach O’Neill, was Alex Erlandson leaving the ground late in the last quarter clutching his hamstring, with the severity of his injury to be assessed during the week.
FINAL SIREN
| NNW United | 4.3 | 9.4 | 14.8 | 16.12 | 108 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Boga | 0.2 | 2.4 | 6.6 | 9.7 | 61 |
VOTES
3 – Riley Daniels (NNW United)
2 – Joel Walsh (NNW United)
1 – Jaydyn Stirling (NNW United)
