WIMMERA under-18s coach Brendan Bryan said working together as a team was key to the side's 55-point win over North Central at St Arnaud's Lord Nelson Park yesterday.
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North Central booted the first two goals, but the visitors bounced back to claim the lead and run away with a 14.11 (95) to 6.4 (40) win.
"It was really good the way the boys gelled," Bryan said.
"It's always a bit of unknown, whether they're going to play as a team or individuals, but after the first 10 minutes they came together as a team.
"The last five minutes of that quarter we saw some good signs and in the second quarter we opened the game up a bit."
The Wimmera side kicked 12 goals to four after the first change, with Horsham's Ryan Kemp, five goals, and Horsham Saints' Jake McIntyre, three, having an impact on the scoreboard.
Ararat talls Xavier Vearing and Matt North performed strongly, while Bryan also praised the work of Keegan Mellington and Sam Williams.
"I thought Keegan played really well on the back flank and Sam kept presenting all day at half forward which was great," he said.
Donald's Sam Dunstan kicked four of North Central's six goals, with St Arnaud on-baller Jordan Harris named the side's best.
Captain Nathan Holt and vice-captain Brody Haddow also performed strongly for the hosts.
North Central coach Alistair Egan said his side was competitive but could not match Wimmera for four quarters.
"We were really competitive in the first quarter but didn't have the leg speed of the Wimmera," he said.
"Jordan on the ball and up forward was a real competitive nut all day, Nathan at times out of the centre was good and young Brody did a fantastic job at centre half back.
"I know about 75 percent of the boys are available next year, so hopefully they'll put their hands up again."