North Wagga’s injury curse continues with midfielder Corey Watt in doubt for Saturday’s preliminary final after damaging his knee in their win over Coleambally.
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The Saints were too slick at the Crossroads Oval on Sunday, winning 15.9 (98) to 6.7 (43) with a performance that might represent a coming of age for the young side.
But they now face an anxious wait on the flying on-baller, who had to be helped from the field eight minutes after halftime, after being dragged down from behind as he got a kick away.
“It just sort of buckled under me and I heard a noise,” Watt told The Daily Advertiser at three-quarter time.
“But I can still move it a bit so hopefully it’s not too bad.”
Coach Nathan Dowdle said it’s too early to assess Watt’s hopes for next week.
“He’ll be in the physio first thing and see where he’s at but hopefully there’s no ligament damage,” Dowdle said.
Watt had made a big impression – as well as a spectacular second quarter mark, he’d given Saints the perfect start with the opening goal.
In a first quarter blitz, Hayden McLachlan, Chad Hamblin, Jake May and Chris Willis followed suit inside 15 minutes before the Blues were even on the board.
Coleambally steadied with two goals but they didn’t find the big sticks again until the third quarter, by which time North Wagga had piled on another five goals to lead by 53 points.
Graham O’Connell almost inspired another Blues comeback with a couple of third quarter goals but the Saints stood tall in a bruising final term.
“I just thought we matured as a side,” Dowdle said, adding that they learnt some lessons out of last week’s qualifying final loss.
“Once we got the ball on the outside, the execution by the players going forward – I was really impressed with their decision making.”
Chad Hamblin snuffed out any slim Blue hopes of a miracle when he snapped an inspirational goal early in the last quarter.
Kirk Hamblin also finished with three goals, but the victory was set up by North Wagga’s impressive defensive effort – led by Troy Curtis and Angus McRae – which allowed their run to carry them home.
NORTH WAGGA (98)
6.1 9.5 10.7 15.8
COLEAMBALLY (43)
2.0 2.0 5.4 6.7 (43)
Goals: (North Wagga) K Hamblin 3, C Hamblin 3, H McLachlan 2, J May 2, C Willis, C Shaw, J Luff, C Watt, L Gaffney; (Coleambally) G O'Connell 2, W Lyell, T Fuller, D Kenna, M Carroll.
Best: (North Wagga) T Curtis, K Hamblin, A McRae, B Alexander, J Thompson, J Luff; (Coleambally) D Kenna, C Pound, G O'Connell, S Mackie, W Kiley, K Stockton.