Wangaratta posted its best win – outside finals – under Dean Stone’s coaching in a controversial two-goal thriller against Wodonga Raiders on Saturday in a rollicking top three contest.
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The premiers led 45-nil after 17 minutes, but were reduced to 17 men for 15 minutes when Nick Richards was charged with striking in a fiesty second quarter melee and then had no bench from the seven-minute mark of the third.
The visitors pounced to grab an unlikely one-point break at the 28-minute mark, before Wangaratta landed three of the last four to post its most courageous win of the past two years.
A clearly frustrated Pies’ coach Dean Stone refused to speak to some media, with the camp incensed at the free kick count and report.
The Pies blitzed Raiders with seven goals in a blistering 10 minutes.
Raiders barely touched the ball, with Michael Newton kicking three goals, all from tight angles, from 40 metres plus.
The visitors soon started the comeback though when Lachie Flagg received a free kick.
Into the second and Raiders’ best Jydon Neagle produced a superb captain’s goal from near the boundary, before the match exploded in the 11th minute.
The melee started five metres from the ball, so it was difficult to see what happened as the players converged, but the result was Richards was off.
“I know Jordan Rouse looks like he might have a broken cheekbone from some contact in that fight, but hopefully it’s alright,” Raiders’ coach Daryn Cresswell said.
The Pies had no bench when the impressive Daniel Sharrock was stretchered off with a right knee complaint, joining Mat Suckling (calf) and Joe Richards (concussion).
The visitors kicked the five straight to grab a five-point lead, but they held it for only 45 seconds when VFL big man Jade Cleeland and Newton combined.
“What cost us was the start, we put so much effort into fighting our way back, we just ran out of (petrol) tickets,” Cresswell said.
Cleeland had his best game, taking a series of strong marks, while defender Dylan Van Berlo was outstanding, pulling in grab after grab.
Defender Ben Douthie also played well, while Newton finished with five goals.
Neagle was wonderful, while Jolliffe, Jackson Kelly and Brodie Filo also featured.
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