STAWELL Warriors coach Brad Thomas has described the club’s seven-point win over the Ararat Rats as “ugly”.
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The Wimmera Football League round 11 match-up was predicted to be a the game of the round and it lived up to expectations.
It was hot football and players put their body on the line throughout, but Thomas said the game was ugly to watch.
“It was a real ugly match,” Thomas said.
“It was far from clean, but we won ugly. We went there looking for a win and that is what we did.”
Stawell were down on form but were able to record a win 12.13 (85) to 12.6 (78).
Ararat came home strongly and if the game had gone much longer the result could have been different.
“Ararat at Ararat is a real danger game for any side,” Thomas said.
“Once they get out and get running, they are incredibly hard to stop.
“If the game had gone for another five minutes we might have been stuffed.”
Ararat kicked seven goals to one in the final quarter.
Stawell’s midfield tried hard to fight on, but struggled against the speed of the Rats.
Thomas was content with the win.
“We think Ararat are a better side than results so far,” Thomas said.
“We can take plenty of positives out of the game despite the scoreline. We would have liked to take more opportunity to put scoreboard pressure on if we had our time over.”
Stawell forward Jack Musgrove was the dominant forward on the ground, kicking six goals.
David Andrivon kicked three goals from the midfield and was again best on ground for the third time in as many weeks.
Andrivon struggled early in the season, but has found his feet and now looks a hard man to stop up front.
Damien Joiner, Jackson Dark, Musgrove, Aidan Potter, and Tom Eckel were the other players to shine for Warriors.
The Warriors have strong depth in 2016 with James Delahunty, Jesse Poultan, Jamie Bach and Liam Scott all performing well in the reserves.
Chris Jerram, Jack Ganley, Jake Robinson, Daniel Mendes, Ryan Bates and Sam Shalders were the best players for Ararat.
A miscommunication between Wimmera Football League officials added to the pre-game tension between the two sides.
With just one umpire in attendance, Ararat club officials were forced to take the field.
“Credit to Ararat for their umpiring,” Thomas said.
“The game was well umpired and everyone was happy.”
The Warriors remain third on the Wimmera Football League ladder, just ahead of Saints.
Ararat is seventh with just two wins for the season.