It was the Lakers’ third win in four weeks and they led at every change to come away with the percentage-boosting 18.18 (126) to 4.6 (30) triumph at Nagambie Recreation Reserve.
Nagambie is looking a completely different team to the one that slumped to a dismal 0-4 start to the season, and coach Tyrone Muir said an injection of youth and some returning stars had been the catalyst for the mid-season turnaround.
“It was great to get a consistent performance over four quarters. We got that sustained effort we have been looking for all season, which was really pleasing,” Muir said.
“Winning three of our last four is really handy. We have got a couple of new younger blokes in the side now that are starting to find their feet, while a couple of our more experienced guys have come back from injury.
“Playing a few of the better teams over that first month we got a good idea of where we were at and I feel like now we are playing with a lot more confidence and belief.”
In what was an incredibly comprehensive performance, Muir said his team’s defensive intensity was particularly impressive, only coughing up four goals.
“I just thought we defended really well as a team. We ran both ways all day and made life hard for them with our transition,” he said.
“From that, we managed to set up our attack and get some really nice passages of play going.”
Livewire small forward Blake Laverie was the star for Nagambie, booting five goals to take best-on-ground honours. David Comi, Jarryd Shepherd and Mark Wilson were also prolific in the victory.
“Blake was really good all day. He’s only a little bloke but he’s got a lot of speed and great skills,” Muir said of Laverie’s performance.
“If we can get the ball to him, he will create opportunities for us and that is exactly what he did on the weekend.”
Elsewhere, Avenel continued on its merry way, recording its eighth win of the season in the form of a 26.32 (188) to 0.0 (0) triumph over a winless Longwood.
Embracing the cold and wet conditions, the Swans dominated all aspects of the game to give their percentage a healthy boost leading into the mid-season bye.
Coach Kasey Duncan and spearhead Jake Sutherland carried the load up forward, kicking seven goals apiece, while Andrew Dowling, Michael Mckenzie, Michael Berry and Hayden Heta provided support.
Murchison-Toolamba did the business on Saturday with a gritty 11-point win over Lancaster, which propels the Grasshoppers to third spot on the Kyabram District League ladder after eight rounds.
Violet Town and Merrigum remain in step with each other at 5-3 after picking up solid wins over Dookie United and Tallygaroopna respectively.
Shepparton East obliterated an undermanned Rushworth, with Ryan Pfieffer bagging a tidy 10 goals in the 211-point win.
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