Port Fairy secures first win of 2021 Hampden league season

Port Fairy is making the most of having a high calibre option in Josh Dwyer.

Dwyer, who spent time in the VFL system as a Geelong development player, was best on ground in the Seagulls' breakthrough win against Cobden at Gardens Oval on Saturday.

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The former NAB League player's ability to read the play and attack with his precise kicking helped the Seagulls cut through the Bombers.

Assistant coach Shane Threlfall, who filled in for ill coach Winis Imbi, said Dwyer made an impact in the 13.15 (93) to 5.14 (44) victory.

"Josh is super talented. He is often playing against a bigger opponent but he just goes about his work," he said.

"He is very good in the air, is a great field kick. He knows when to go fast, he knows when to compose himself and hold the footy.

"From what I have seen he would be capable of playing at that level (again)."

Port Fairy made amends - to some degree - for its slow starts in the opening three rounds. The Seagulls dominated play but kicked 3.9 to 0.2 to keep the Bombers in contention.

Threlfall said "high pressure and high intensity" were the catalyst for the scoring chances.

"We've just been giving sides too much of a start - our first quarters have been woeful - so that was a bit of a focus this week," he said.

"We just wanted to start well and it's amazing if you start well, you gain a bit of confidence and a lot of the other stuff flows on from there."

Defender Colin Harwood - one of the Seagulls' generals in defence - echoed Threlfall's thoughts.

"We knew that (slow starts) was what we had to fix and it changed the game," he said.

"Instead of chasing tail all game, we actually led from the front and put the pressure on them which makes a massive difference."

Port Fairy went in undersized. It had no recognised ruckman while the Bombers had three - Mark Marriott, Sam Clarke and Ben Berry - at their disposal.

Both Threlfall and Harwood were pleased the Seagulls played to their strengths.

Small forwards Jimmy Imbi (two goals), Jimmy Conlan (one), Lochie Gunning (one) and Tyler Hetherington were effective as were Shane Savage (four goals) and BJ Dalton (two).

"It is no secret we're short at the moment, we have some of our talls out," Threlfall said.

"The small forwards have just been fantastic at competing and once it hits the deck, they're ferocious.

"That has been really noticeable the past two weeks, just their groundball intensity has been really good."

Harwood said they were helping key forward Jake Bartlett out.

"Our target is Jake Bartlett and he's doing a great job by himself but if we can get it to ground then we know the 'mozzie squad' can do the rest," he said.

Injuries hit Cobden before the first bounce. One debutant turned into three.

Cobden coach Adam Courtney said Matt Kemp was picked on Thursday night and Louis Darcy and Luke Hickey also came in.

Hickey played three quarters in the under 18.5 competition prior.

Sam Giblett (hamstring) was hurt in the warm-up and Zac Green (hamstring) was a withdrawal on Friday night.

Josh Woods (kick in the knee), Ryley McVilly (concussion) and Jack McGlade (ankle) were hurt in the match. "We had no one on the bench at the start of the fourth quarter for the fourth week in a row," Courtney said.

He lamented the Bombers' poor skill level and decision-making.

"We weren't switched on at the start of the game, were too loose around the footy and second to the ball," he said.

"We're not kicking it to the bloke by himself and we're not listening to instruction enough.

"We have to get back to the drawing board as players and also as coaches.

"We didn't want to be 0-4 but it's where we are, it's the reality."

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