Stellar outings from Jordan Jennings and Jacob Martinez and a red hot first quarter gave Centrals the fuel they needed to overcome Halls Head 12.3 (75) to 19.12 (131) on Sunday afternoon, but the Blues are bracing for a new challenge now with a daunting fortnight looming ahead.
The visitors had the hot hand early in their clash against the Lightning at Spartan Stadium, booting six goals to Halls Head's one in the opening term.
Martinez saw the Blues charge out of the gates as he booted two of the day's opening three goals, while Jennings, Kyle Collard, Chase Garlett and Callum Marshall also hit the scoreboard in the first.
Young gun Travis Sexton notched the Lightning's only goal for the term, as they went into the first break trailing by 37 points.
But Halls Head fired back nailing the first three of the second quarter, as Liam Lockley's hard work helped Greg Nelson, Luke Humphries and Rhys Allender find the goals.
They were within 17 points when Nelson hit his second for the term, but Centrals responded to push their lead out to 32 at the half.
From there it was a scoring blitz by the Blues.
Halls Head did their best to maintain a steady flow of goals, but they couldn't keep pace as Centrals piled up 10 second-half goals to storm to a 56-point victory.
It's their second straight win after they edged past Mandurah the week prior, with the Blues finding some form ahead of what looms as a crucial two-game stretch.
They'll square off against top-three sides Baldivis and Pinjarra in the final two games of the regular season, with coach Toby McGrath hoping his side can carry on with their recent form.
"It's a massive two weeks for us, no doubt," he said.
"I've been really happy with the way everyone has contributed over the past two weeks, that win over Mandurah was a particularly good one for our club, but we'll need to raise the bar a bit to beat these top sides.
"It's important for us to be playing our best footy in those weeks. We can't afford to get rolled and we can't limp into finals."
The Blues have been decimated by injuries to a handful of their best players this year, but are hopeful of seeing some welcome returns as finals approach.
Skipper Toby Gianatti went down with a knee injury in the state game earlier in the season, while gun forward Callum Collard and full back Bruno Faulkner have both spent large stints on the sidelines.
"We can't be certain about them, but we're crossing our fingers those guys will be back in a couple of weeks," McGrath said.
"That would be a huge boost for our senior side."
Centrals take on the Brumbies at Baldivis Oval this Sunday, 2.30pm.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
