Slick Traralgon far too strong

Not even Brad Scalzo’s four quarter brilliance could stop Traralgon trampling Warragul at Western Park on Saturday.

The Gulls’ on-baller played a superb lone hand but it takes a team effort by 21 players to challenge a side with Traralgon’s qualities.

The Maroons got what they travelled to Warragul for - four premiership points, a healthy boost to their percentage and a clear hold on third place on the ladder as the home and away season turns to the home run.

At the end it was a commanding 25-13 to 44 result Traralgon’s way.

Early on it didn’t look like the match would be anywhere near that onesided.

The Gulls, although under-manned and again well short of the best side it could f ield, started with plenty of spirit and took up the challenge.

The scoreboard at quarter time, Traralgon leading 5-2 to 1-4, exaggerated the gap in play to that stage and when, two minutes into the second term, Jarryd Drew goaled from 35 metres after a brilliant lead-up in which he was involved three times there were some springs in the Gulls’ steps.

Another goal in the quarter to youngster Jared Lane was a further boost.

But Warragul’s scoring dried up from then on.

A goal in the third quarter by Brad Hefford was the only other Gulls’ score for the game as the fleet-footed Traralgon ran them off their legs and did virtually as they pleased.

Scalzo, with a pile of quality possessions in all parts of the ground, was a shining light for Warragul.

Chris Carey in the ruck put in another lionhearted performance and exposed what could be Traralgon’s nemesis at finals’ time, a lack of height.

Drew, good early, was injured in the second half and one of three that were confined to the bench in the last quarter.

Jake Hughes, Ambu Uliando, Jason Croft and coach Steve Kidd, playing a bit further up the ground, also gave the Gulls some life and the move of Matt Moseley to defence on Saturday would be seen as successful.

As the game wore on Traralgon’s class took over.

The Maroons are one of the quickest sides in the competition and will trouble any side if allowed to get loose.

Players of the quality of Danny Campbell, Tim Northe, Mick and Lee Stockdale, Jackson Hall, coach Mark Collison, Tom Johnston, captain Michael Geary and Josh Jennings, the latter a non-starter on Saturday, can cut opponents to pieces in quick bursts.

The first half of the season was winless for Warragul that would see the next fortnight with games against Moe and Drouin as two of its better chances of breaking through.

A lot of the hopes will rest on several passing f itness tests and the availability of some of the Gulls’ talented youngsters on the Gippsland Power TAC Cup list.

So far this season Warragul has shown it can match most sides for periods but drops off, especially late in matches.

Saturday was a typical example.

In the last quarter the Gulls were scoreless and possibly took the ball forward of the centre of the ground on no more than half a dozen occasions.