South Warrnambool enters Hampden league bye with 8-1 win-loss record

Roosters defender Harry Lee (knee) and Tiger key position player Sam Hampshire (finger) were hurt on Saturday.

Lee came off in the first quarter of the Roosters' convincing 14.14 (98) to 8.6 (54) win at Friendly Societies' Park.

MORE FOOTY: Bombers fly into week off with third win in four games

South Warrnambool's seven unanswered goals in the third quarter blew the game between the top-five rivals apart.

The third-placed Roosters (8-1) now have a three-game break on the fourth-ranked Tigers (5-4).

Roosters coach Mat Battistello said the Roosters expected Lee to miss a number of matches.

"He might have a strained medial so it's anywhere between four and six weeks," he said.

"That adds even more merit to the win - he was gone in the first quarter so we were down to two rotations."

Portland coach Jarrod Holt said he was unsure how long Hampshire would be sidelined.

"Sam had a bone sticking out of his finger so he'll miss a period of time," he said.

"The way we structure up means he's pretty important. We haven't got an abundance of big fellas.

"It is disappointing for him. He works hard and is an important part of our side."

Battistello was rapt with the Roosters' attacking flair in the third term.

It helped them turn a 15-point half-time lead into an unassailable advantage.

"Part of the maturity of our group is trying to find those gears and to do that in the third quarter was really, really pleasing," he said.

"We feel like we've been defending sides really well so it was just having that balance between defence and offence."

Will White was part of the Roosters' dynamic attack.

The fourth-gamer, who is only 17, kicked 4.3 including one which mirrored "a Shane Warne leggie break".

Fellow teenager Archie Stevens was also effective, gathering disposals at will.

"To our senior group's credit, they embrace these kids coming in and are really helping them play their roles and guiding them through," Battistello said.

"The other side of that is the kids are rewarding us because they play an exciting brand of footy."

South Warrnambool's ability to negate Portland's dash pleased the non-playing mentor.

"They like speed on the ball and are very aggressive with their kicking pattern and that's where it was pleasing for us, we got the game on our terms and minimised on what they were able to do," Battistello said.

Holt lamented the Tigers' error count and conceded they struggled around the stoppages.

"They set up really well and had guys on the outside who cut us up a fair bit," he said.

"We think we're better than what we served up but they're also a good side and we respect that."

Holt said two of the Tigers' experienced players - Tom Sharp and Jake Wilson - could hold their heads high.

It was key position player Wilson's first game of the season.

"He was a little bit underdone but he's obviously an exceptional player and can hold down that position no worries," he said.

Paul Proctor and Harold Pritchard in defence also receive praise from the coach.

South Warrnambool 4.5, 6.7, 13.11, 14.14 (98)

Portland 1.1, 4.4, 4.4, 8.6 (54)

GOALS

South Warrnambool: Will White 4, Tim Ryan 2, James Hussey 2, Samuel Kelly 2, Shannon Beks 1, Ricky Henderson 1, Liam Youl 1, Brayden Beks 1

Portland: Thomas Sharp 2, Jake Edwards 2, Toby Jennings 1, Harrison Hampshire 1, Daniel Jackson 1, Josh Jenner 1

BEST

South Warrnambool: Liam Youl, Archie Stevens, Shannon Beks, Will White, James Hussey, Joshua Saunders

Portland: Thomas Sharp, Josh Jenner, Jake Edwards, Ben Malcolm, Daniel Jackson, Jake Wilson

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