WFL - The Ararat Rats got their Wimmera Football League season off to a flyer on Saturday with a comprehensive 58-point win over Nhill at Alexandra Oval.
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After a big pre-season the Rats were eager to hit the ground running and proved relentless from the outset, with the home team hitting the scoreboard in the opening seconds courtesy of some undisciplined play from the Tigers' midfield.
Alan Batchelor was gifted the first of several 50-metre penalties for the day and hit up new recruit Daniel Mendes who calmly converted with his first kick in the red and white.
Nhill was quick to reply with another free out of the centre, this time in favour of the visitors, helping to open their account.
The Rats had their second major of the afternoon minutes later when James Laidlaw pounced on a loose ball and when Matt North snapped his first of three goals suddenly it was panic stations for Nhill.
Despite winning the centre clearance count, the Tigers struggled to get the ball deep into their forward-50 for much of the term, as Jake Williamson and Brady Miller swept across the half-back line and forced the ball back into attack.
At the 12-minute mark Williamson pushed forward and some quick hands from Batchelor saw the 2012 best and fairest winner score a trademark running goal from the 50-metre arc to push the margin out to 21 points.
Mendes and North each slotted their second majors before quarter time, along with Tyler Cronin, to help Ararat to a 39-point lead.
Rats' joint-coach Andrew Louder said he wasn't expecting his team to get away to such a dominant start.
"To be honest no, but I was really happy with how we started off, it was a good first quarter," he said.
"Training has been okay, but it hadn't been as sharp as what it was out on the field Saturday. Their intensity during the game was a bit better than it has been at training, which is good you definitely prefer that than the other way around."
That intensity didn't waver in the second term, with the forwards applying plenty of pressure to lock the ball inside Ararat's half.
Cronin bagged his second seven minutes in, before the Tigers managed consecutive goals against the play.
The Rats were quick to respond through Harry Ganley and Aaron Searle before scoring dried up somewhat, as the ball was driven back and forth through the centre of the ground.
Just before the main break Jacob Bates gave Ararat a lift when he was involved in the play on the half-back flank before running hard down the ground to find himself on the end of a chain of handballs to score a goal.
Louder said the Rats' ball movement was certainly a highlight.
"The way we moved the ball and our skill level was really good," he said.
"We moved it quickly and didn't have many losers across the ground it was just a good team game.
"We could have had a lot of players get in the best, because when one might have dropped away another picked up the slack."
Ararat continued to dictate play in the third quarter, pushing its 48-point half time lead to more than 50 points by the final break.
Beau Cosson was the star of the term, booting two goals.
"Our whole forward structure was a lot better and mobile than it probably was last year and Beau's influence was good," Louder said.
"I think you'll find he will float up the ground and be a good running back player, which we saw on Saturday. That is going to be a good asset for us."
The Rats could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal in the final quarter, but as they had done all day, the team again outscored the Tigers to send a message to the rest of the competition.
Mendes was awarded the Wilf Dickeson medal for a best on ground performance, while Williamson’s efforts were also praised by Louder.
“Dan’s use of the ball and just his ability to make smart decisions are going to be very important for us this year,” Louder said.
“As a midfielder to be able to push forward and kick goals is also very handy.
“And Jake is a lot better fitness wise going into this year which enables him to cover more ground. If the ball is in his hands you know nine out of ten times he is going to make a good decision.”
With no injuries from the match the Rats will be close to full strength when they take on Stawell in round two following the Easter long-weekend.
“There are just a few guys with general muscle soreness so with the Easter break everyone will be ready to go for round two,” Louder said.
“I probably would have preferred to keep playing now the season has started, but you can’t do much about it.
“Overall it was a good win, but there’s still room for improvement.”