DEAN Limbach is fast becoming one of the league’s most unstoppable forces after booting 10 goals in Wodonga Raiders’ 49-point win over Wodonga yesterday.
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Limbach put the Raiders’ crosstown rival to the sword in their Anzac Day clash with a dominant showing out of the goalsquare.
He booted six of his 10 majors in the second half as the Raiders broke the game apart with an eight-goal final term.
AFL prospect Jydon Neagle was equally impressive, booting four goals from the midfield and highlighting his ability to play at a higher level with a seriously classy showing around the ground.
Playing coach Ben Klemke was a standout in the unfamiliar position of the ruck, with Jack Di Mizio, Steve Jolliffe and Tim Brook also coming under notice in patches.
But co-coach Simon Bone found it hard to ignore Limbach’s showing after the win.
“I haven’t been involved in too many matches where someone kicks 10,” Bone said.
“He’s off the back of a VFL career and was on AFL list and that so he’s always going to be a great focal point for us.
“He gives us plenty of upside with his ego and everything that goes with it.
“But all good players have that, I think.”
Wodonga, which endured another horror week, burst out of the blocks and well and truly dominated the opening 10 minutes of the game.
But they failed to make it count.
The Raiders slowly wrestled the lead off the Bulldogs in the early stages of the second term and didn’t let it go after Limbach sent the Raiders into the rooms at half-time buzzing with a brilliant goal from the boundary after the siren.
The Raiders kicked twice as many goals as the Bulldogs in the second half.
The defeat resigned Wodonga to an unforgettable 0-3 start to the year.
The Bulldogs sit on the bottom of the ladder.
Wodonga coach Ben Hollands, who kept the Bulldogs alive with his class out of the centre square, wasn’t entirely doom and gloom after the game.
“I think our first half was the type of footy we want to play,” he said.
“Certainly in that first quarter we had the footy inside 50 a lot but just didn’t put any scoreboard pressure on.
“We probably could have been three or four goals ahead but we didn’t take our opportunities.
“But it was a much better effort than last week.”
Bone wasn’t getting carried away with the win and said his troops still had plenty of work to do.
The Raiders face an acid test at home against Wangaratta Rovers in round 4.
“At times we looked good, but we were still poor in others,” he said.
“I think we had a fairly even contribution with a couple of standouts, who are really, really good players.”