Warrnambool forward line crucial in win against Terang Mortlake

The Blues found themselves 12 points down in the final term before Sam Cowling, Austin Steere and Luke Cody lifted them to an inspiring 15.10 (100) to 12.8 (80) victory at Deakin University on Saturday.

The trio kicked the Blues' seven last-quarter goals.

Cowling moved forward in the final term, using his marking prowess and long-range kicking to slice up the Bloods' back line.

He kicked three goals as the Blues turned the momentum their way.

Steere and Cody used their pace and roving skills to kick two goals each in the last. Both finished the match with four majors.

Warrnambool coach Ben Parkinson was rapt with their performances.

"He (Cowling) is back with his hands. He took a lot of marks last week and he took more again today," he said.

"(Steere and Cody) gave us a little bit of polish at the end and some good leg speed."

Terang Mortlake had its own dominant forward with Will Kain kicking seven goals.

He has kicked 25 goals in six matches, impressing coach Ben Kenna.

"It's what he does when he doesn't kick them - he's dishing off handballs to give other blokes an opportunity," Kenna said.

"He's playing with confidence and players are delivering it into him because they know what he can do."

Kenna, who was pleased with Gus Bourke and Daniel Kenna, said the Bloods needed to turn half chances into victories instead of honourable losses.

"The close games we've lost against Camperdown, Portland and Warrnambool we've been thereabouts," he said.

"We've been good enough for three-and-a-half quarters but can't quite do enough for long enough."

Kenna said bringing pace into the side, potentially from the under 18.5 competition, could be an option in coming weeks.

"I thought their (the Blues') quicker onball and half-forward players at different stages hurt us. We struggled to contain them," he said.

Parkinson said Warrnambool's win - just its second in six matches - put its Hampden league season back on track.

"The last quarter was pleasing. It shows what we can do," he said.

"It's just a matter of consistency and knowing we can do it.

"But it all comes down to effort, if you don't bring effort talent is not going to get you far enough."

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