ARARAT has kept its 2014 finals' hopes alive with a resounding 125 point defeat of Nhill in a somewhat fiery clash at Alexandra Oval in the penultimate round of the Wimmera Football League season.
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The Rats never looked hindered by a hapless Tigers, early majors from prolific goal kickers Beau Cosson and Daniel Mendes helping Ararat race to a 30 point lead at quarter time.
The gap grew in the second term, with their opposition scarcely challenging, easy goals from the Rats were a theme of the quarter.
A great grab and subsequent goal from Aaron Searle mid way through the term provided more highlights for the home team which was up by 73 points at the half.
Coach David Hosking said the team went into the match confident of the win, however, complacency was never an option.
"We went into the match confident, we obviously thought we were going to win," he said.
"I wasn't unhappy with the first half, however, I think we were a bit poor in the third term.
"When they came out and had a crack, they dragged us down a bit and we started to over use the football," he said.
For Ararat the third quarter was all about Cosson as the tall dominated the forward kicking four of his seven goals for the day.
The premiership quarter was also highlighted by clashes between players from both teams.
Nhill players reacted angrily to the result of a contest between one of its players and young Rat Brady Miller. A clash ensued and Nhill player Justin Merrett was reported for allegedly striking Miller.
Minutes later and when play moved to the middle of the field a cheap elbow to Jake Robinson only heightened tensions.
Rats' Brendan Lovell and Liam Cavanagh and two Tigers' opponents were sent from the field as a result of a second scuffle.
Hosking was bewildered by some of the actions of Nhill's senior players.
"You want your senior players to lead and be good examples for the younger players coming through the ranks," he said.
"We understand they are frustrated, no one likes to lose every game they play, but behaving the way some did doesn't get you a win."
The Rats rose above the Tigers' tendency to play the man rather than the ball and despite signs of inaccuracy in the final term only increased their lead to run out winners, 23.16 (154) to 4.5 (29).
Hosking said the team's first half of the last term wasn't very good due to some poor kicking, however with not much to measure their performance against overall they could have played even better.
"I think we still have some improving to do, we didn't play at our best," he said.
"Although, it's just a bit hard to judge because we weren't tested much."
Hosking said the team benefited from the return of some aspects of play that had been missing from the team in the past few rounds.
"We've done some work around set plays, we've implemented a couple of new things and it was pleasing to see some of that work, particularly around stoppages."
Mendes, who had a day out with six goals of his own was awarded best on ground, Ganley brothers Jack, on the wing and Harry, in the midfield were also named in the best.
Cosson with his seven goals had to feature among the best, while Jake Robinson and Alan Batchelor were also named.
The result comes as another demoralising defeat for Nhill which hasn't won a match all season, while the Rats sit sixth on the ladder with only percentage separating them from fifth-placed Dimboola and a possible finals' berth.
"It isn't the score we need to be worrying about, we need to focus on the result, what happens around us is going to happen anyway," Hosking said.