A DOMINANT second half allowed Minyip-Murtoa to start its season with a thumping 148-point win under lights at Murtoa.
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After some promising signs in the opening two quarters Dimboola added just seven points to their half-time total before eventually being defeated 26.12 (174) to 4.2 (26).
Burras coach Damian Cameron said the win was a great reward for the work done during the off-season.
“You work really hard during pre-season towards particular goals and in a particular manner,” he said.
“Normally it takes a while for things to come together but for the first three quarters I really thought we were bang on – that’s really pleasing.”
The game ebbed and flowed during the first quarter until Kieran Delahunty kicked three quick goals after five minutes of play to set the home team on its way.
A free kick to Elliot Braithwaite at the top of the goal square gave Dimboola it’s only goal of the quarter just before the siren but it was not through a lack of opportunities going forward.
Both sides penetrated their forward 50s on 10 occasions and while Minyip-Murtoa kicked 6.3, Dimboola’s forwards often trailed their defenders to the ball in order to rebound effectively.
Dimboola coach Al McKninnon said going into the game it was going to be an area of strength for his opponents.
“We thought we’d covered our bases but obviously it didn’t pan out that way,” he said.
“There was just too many loose blokes with our forward pushing too far up into the centre of the ground and not getting opportunities.
It was about us not working hard enough up and back at the same time.”
The second quarter continued to be an arm wrestle with Josh Edgar often winning the hitouts for Dimboola while the Burras would shark the ball at ground level.
A familiar pattern of failing to make the most of their forward thrusts continued to plague the Roos as Luke Chamberlain started to impact the game with his physical presence.
“He was repeatedly massive at the contest and was knocking guys to the ground,” Cameron said.
“It’s not always about what he does physically but it can give everybody else a lift when you know your teammates are putting their bodies on the line.”
At half-time 47 points separated the sides.
The lights started to take effect at the in the second half and it was not the only way the match looked different.
Minyip-Murtoa started to control every aspect of the game and piled on nine unanswered goals in the third quarter.
Cameron said he knew his side would be challenged physically by Dimboola through the early stages of the match.
“They always challenge us no matter of where they are on the ladder,” he said.
“We talked about that in the lead up to the game and we just needed to stay focused in a hope the game would break open – which it did. I think that comes down to self belief in the group.”
Eight goals to one were added in the final quarter but Cameron still believed his side could have run out the game better.
“When you look at the last 10 minutes we switched off a bit,” he said. “When you play a good team in a tight contest you can’t do that unless you want to throw games away.”
Cameron was also impressed by the impact young player Bray Cullinan and Jake Ballagh had in their first games of senior football.
“It was great to be able to have those guys in the team this early in the season,” he said.
“It’s massive head start for them because they found out what the speed and aggression of the contest is like.”
Callum Hobbs, Lachie Johns and Mitch Cronin all fitted in well in their first games for the club.
Kieran Delahunty finished with six goals, Jae McGrath slotted five, while Angus Trethowan and Chamberlain each contributed four.
McKinnon said his side would need to regroup during the week.
“We are still a work in progress – it was game one and we were up against some really good opposition,” he said. “There are only a handful of players that have played together before and that is in four different groups. We’ll be back on the track during the week then come together on Saturday in order to to try and fast track some of that team unity before playing Sunday.”