GEELONG Falcons firmed as premiership favourites with a come-from-behind win over Murray Bushrangers at RAMS Arena on Saturday.
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Trailing by three goals during the third quarter, the Falcons motored home to emerge victorious by 14 points and strengthen their spot on top of the ladder.
The loss leaves the Bushrangers in third spot after nine rounds with the general bye ahead.
Coach Leon Higgins said Geelong’s run proved too much in the final quarter.
“We had our moments but they finished a lot better than us,” Higgins said.
“I thought we had the upper hand in the game on occasions but we weren’t able to sustain it for long enough.
“Our consistency throughout the game wasn’t great.
“They handled the ball better than us and were strong around the contest and very committed.”
The Bushrangers looked the better side for the first half with big Esava Ratugolea leading the way.
He finished with four goals in a strong display in the ruck and up forward.
“We’re really pleased with him in his second game back from a knee injury,” Higgins said.
“He’s got a lot of draftable attributes.”
North Albury’s Doulton Langlands played his best match for the Bushrangers across half-back while James Cousins overcame some attention at the stoppages to play well.
Ryan Garthwaite improved as the match wore on after returning from a groin injury and Ben Paton worked hard around the packs.
Geelong started to make its move late in the third quarter and the signs were ominous with only a point separating the teams at the final change.
The Falcons then added 3.5 to 1.2 with Sean Darcy, Cassidy Parish and Liam McCarthy in the thick of the action late.
The Bushrangers’ next match is against Bendigo at Bendigo on June 19.
In other matches, Sandringham Dragons defeated Eastern Ranges by 43 points and Calder Cannons accounted for Oakleigh Chargers by nine points.
North Ballarat were too strong Gippsland, Northern Knights brought down Western Jets and Dandenong defeated Bendigo.
Meanwhile, Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka’s Harry Perryman was the Allies’ best player in their 44-point loss to South Australia in the opening game of the division one AFL Under-18 Championships in Adelaide on Saturday.
The Greater Western Sydney academy prospect played in the forward half and had 18 touches and a goal.
Zach Sproule and Todd Marshall also booted a major.
The Allies came together as a team just days before their round-one meeting and have the bye in round two of the series.