by Nicholas Duck
Warragul Industrials kicked off their season with a hard-fought eight-point win over Garfield.
The beginning of Bob McCallum's tenure as senior coach came with plenty of challenges in what was a pulsating match that saw several swings of momentum, before the Dusties booted the final two goals of the day to come away winners 13.10 (88) to 12.8 (80).
The Dusties led at every change, albeit narrowly, as they were made to work for their win by an improved Stars side.
The win also saw McCallum claim honours against former Drouin teammate Eddie Morris, who was similarly taking the reins at the Stars.
There was plenty to like for both sides throughout as neither team were able to get more than a couple of goals in front at any stage.
Both had their chances to break clear at various times though in the end the game turned into an arm wrestle, the Dusties eventually proving too strong with their clean ball movement, especially once they got loose on the wings of Western Park.
The return of the Beck brothers, both of whom had interrupted campaigns in 2024, paid dividends with the two in and amongst the action all day.
Recruits Goy Lok and Jeremy Monckton proved their worth, the former through the middle and the latter along the wing, while Regan Awty and Brenton Hillard impressed.
Garfield will be ruing a missed opportunity given they were in the contest up to their eyeballs, but to have kicked 12 goals – a number they never reached once last year – was pleasing to see. The inclusion of spearhead Mitch Johnson as a focal point has already made them a more threatening prospect, the recruit looking busy early before fading late.
Morris was best on for the visitors, showing every bit of his class in a rather stop-start game of stoppages. Jahmain Harrison and Jake van den Berghe were a handful throughout as Jed Pinkerton and ruck Cooper Reilly rounded out their better performers.
The new coaches were among the play from the first bounce, McCallum grabbing the ball out of the ruck from the first ball up before being dispossessed in a tackle, with Morris picking it up and booting it forward.
The clubs went blow for blow early, new Star Johnson looking the most likely to break the game apart with two first quarter goals.
Warragul Industrials managed to fight back thanks to two late majors, upping the pressure and causing the Stars to panic a bit to take a one-point advantage into quarter time.
Garfield upped their own ante early in the second after some ill-discipline from the home side gave them a bevy of free kicks and 50-metre penalties, kicking two goals as they seemed primed to put on a decent lead.
This only kicked off a run of four Dusties goals to end the half, however, the highlight being a barnstorming run along the wing from recruit Jeremy Monckton to set up an easy shot for Bailey Beck.
And when Will Gibson calmly slotted a long-range set shot to begin the second half, things were suddenly looking dicey for Garfield.
But again things shifted, and this time it was the visitors' turn to throw a few punches with their own run of four straight goals. A frankly incredible banana kick curing through the wrong way from Angus Emery in the pocket was the standout.
Up stepped McCallum at this stage, the 39-year-old slotting a tough set shot from the boundary line in swirling conditions to keep his side up and about.
It was tough to tell where things were going to go in the final term as the Dusties held onto a slender six-point lead and only tougher still after Van Den Berghe and Jack Tenace-Greenall goaled to give the Stars the advantage.
A soccered goal from Goy Lok before a mark and 50-metre penalty to Tim Hancock were eventually enough to see Warragul Industrials home for a hard-fought win.
While they were far from perfect, there was plenty of intent from the Dusties to keep the ball moving on the outside. The time and space they found, especially on the wings, proved to be the difference in the end.
Speaking post-game McCallum was happy with his side's ability to fight back when they were challenged.
"That's something that's going to hold us in good stead further down the track. Lots of mistakes but to have that ability to fight, that's a big thing to have," he said.
"We're such a new side, new coach and new systems. We've got five or six new guys in the system today. There were three under 18s guys in there. That continuity is going to come. We don't expect to be at our best in round one but it'll come."
Morris was relatively pleased with his side's efforts.
"We did really well, we were always in the contest. It just sort of felt like a game where nothing was easy for us," he said.
"There were a lot of positive signs but it's one of those ones where it's hard because you're right there and you've got to take those winnable ones."
"We're a young side, they're going to be up and down with their mindset. On the flip side we kicked 80 points, we didn't do that once last year,
"We probably just need to slow up a little bit and have a little bit more control, more tempo footy."
Warragul Industrials will be boosted by the return of Kuiy Jiath as they head to Bass Recreation Reserve for a battle with Kildunca Bass while Garfield will host Phillip Island in a true test of their improvement.