Luke Robinson’s four goal haul and a big day out for the Baldivis midfield helped the Brumbies overcome a woeful day in front of the goals and pick up their sixth straight win, despite a gallant Mandurah that refused to give in.
Outstanding games from Stuart Puls up forward and Mitchell White in the midfield saw Mandurah continue to fight until the final siren, but it did little to stop the Brumbies from taking home the victory as they wrapped the game up with a 8.7 (55) to 13.19 (94) win.
Robinson was dynamic in a Baldivis forward line missing regulars Aaron Bowers and Brieghton Shea, nailing four goals while Eddy Dann, Emmanuel Collard and Brendan Tingey played superb games.
But it was Mandurah that looked to have the hot hand early when Puls booted two of the game’s first three, with Robinson converting for Baldivis at the other end.
White put in a stellar performance across four quarters and was giving Mandurah the edge around the contest, but the league leaders broke away with four straight goals courtesy of Max Nixon, Tingey, Robinson and Hayden Lynn.
The Brumbies were firmly in control until Puls booted his third of the quarter, with another Mustangs goal on the cusp of quarter time bringing the home side within seven points at the first break.
The high-scoring affair came to a grinding halt in the second term, with Baldivis keeping the Mustangs goalless while booting two of their own to escape to a 25-point buffer at half time.
But Mandurah’s Tim Read, who was exceptional at half back, rewarded himself with the second half’s first goal to kick-start a purple patch for the red and white.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs their good work around the ground went unrewarded on the scoreboard, with Baldivis’ Sam Barndon mopping up several attacks.
An inaccurate Brumbies outfit had many chances to blow the game out after regaining control, but wayward kicking was their bane until Collard and Robinson broke through with late majors to stretch the lead to 32 points at the final change.
Mandurah looked to be on the verge of coughing up a big margin, but the Mustangs refused to lay down meekly.
Puls booted his fourth and fifth goals early in the term as the hosts looked to cut into the lead, but Wesley Steele nailed a booming set shot from roughly 50 metres out to keep the Mustangs at bay.
Jay Walton bagged a major late in the quarter, but Robinson’s fourth and Collard’s second had the game on ice.
The win keeps Baldivis’ unbeaten run in tact and improves them to six straight wins.
Things won’t get any easier for the Mustangs next week, as they travel to Pinjarra to face the reigning premiers.