Wimmera-Mail Times| LAHARUM smashed reigning premier Swifts at Cameron Oval on Saturday.
Laharum 34.17 (221) d Swifts 3.1 (19)
LAHARUM delivered a huge statement with a 202-point demolition of reigning premier Swifts at Cameron Oval on Saturday.
In the lead-up to the game Mountain Men coach Shannon Argall said his side hoped to ‘‘inflict some pain’’ on the team that conquered it in the 2014 grand final.
His charges did exactly that, piling on 34 goals and restricting the Baggies to just three.
The third quarter was a masterclass of its own.
Laharum was at full flight, kicking 13 goals in the term.
It was the second highest scoring quarter by any side this season, behind Kalkee’s fourth-quarter tally of 14 goals against Pimpinio in round three.
Laharum’s overall total of 221 points marked the first time a side has broken the 200-point barrier this season.
The goal-kicking feast was shared by the Mountain Men, with young gun Joe Harrison kicking a career-high seven.
Mark Dorward, in his second game of the year, also booted seven, while key forward Jason Przibilla had six to reclaim the lead in the league goal-kicking tally.
Skipper Sam Winfield stepped up in the middle in the absence of Robbie Miller, and defender Brett Ervin relished a role further up the ground.
Shannon Argall had a day out against a less experienced opponent in Rory Jones.
The Baggies rucked Jones after key defender Justin Thomas was a late withdrawal and Damon Folkes had to play in the back line to cover his loss.
Jake Atkins, playing his first senior game of the year, was one of the few Baggies to consistently apply pressure to the Mountain Men in the middle.
He was named Swifts’ best player and was one of their three goal-kickers.
Baggies’ Damien Smith, knee, and Jakob Davis, hamstring, were injured during the game.
Coach Paul Hanns played well but came from the ground with a corkie.
‘‘With the injury list we already had, to lose another few didn’t help,’’ he said.
‘‘They controlled almost every aspect of the game apart from the last quarter, where we were able to be competitive.’’
Argall said it was one of his side’s best performances of the season.
‘‘In terms of dominating all aspects of the play, that’s our most resounding result so far,’’ he said.
‘‘One of our best attributes is that we have no individuals – a guy might be having a set shot from 30 metres out and be able to pinpoint a better option, and that’s what we did well.’
