Stunning performances from Demons duo Rhett Mason and Zac Moody led Waroona to their second win of the year as they extracted revenge on the Mandurah Mustangs in a bottom-two clash on Saturday night.
The Mustangs handed Waroona their worst loss in more than a decade with a 122-point drubbing back in round one, but not even outstanding accuracy could save the hosts from a spiteful Demons outfit that took the game 15.3 (93) to 16.13 (109).
Mason and Moody were unstoppable in the victory, getting their hands to the footy with regularity and also hurting Mandurah on the scoreboard with two goals apiece.
It was their hard work that saw Waroona back into the contest after Mandurah threw the first punch in the early goings.
Goals to Michael Stevens, Kyle Collard and Stuart Puls in the opening five minutes had Waroona staring down the barrel of a blowout similar to round one’s, but a goal to James Vincent helped set the Demons’ wheels in motion.
Mason nailed a miraculous goal from the boundary to help bring his side within four points at quarter time, before the Demons took total control in the second.
Mustangs captain Zac Podmore was admirable in his 100th league game, but Waroona nailed six of the last seven goals in the first half to take a four-goal buffer into half time.
Aidan Fotheringhame conjured some magic from the boundary to get the ball rolling, and goals to Moody, Jayden Derosa, Nathan Chiera, Justin Guimelli and Mason just before half time allowed the Demons to breathe a little easier.
Mandurah desperately needed to respond early in the second half and did so with a goal to Jay Walton, but as was the case most of the night Waroona had a harsh reply at the ready with a run of three straight letting them break away.
Rowan Gardiner’s second half running the ball out of defence was outstanding, as he sparked several plays for the visitors.
Michael Mulcahy and Lachlan Bray attempted to do the same for Mandurah but the absence of star midfielder Mitch White was felt when the Demons got on top of the stoppages.
A purple patch of four straight goals at the end of the game allowed Mandurah to cut the lead to just 15 points at the final siren, but it was too little too late as Waroona took their second win of the season, leapfrogging off the bottom of the ladder for the first time this year.
The loss condemns the Mustangs to that bottom spot.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
