Ruckman dominant as Kalgoorlie continue impressive run to the GFL finals
Kalgoorlie have dared to dream in the run to the Goldfields Football League’s 2024 finals series after a workmanlike first half set the tone for a 12-point victory, 9.6 (60) to 7.6 (48), against Boulder on Saturday that perfectly complemented co-captain Dylan Clarke’s 100th game.
The Roos remain in fourth spot but have now won three of their past four games under Rick Butterfield, with forward Ricky Whitehead waiting patiently for a recall after he was unavailable at the weekend.
Kalgoorlie’s revival follows a rough start when the squad lost five of the opening seven games — and there will be another big test of their credentials this Saturday against second-placed Mines Rovers.
But the black-and-whites have had the Diorites’ measure in each of the past two clashes and are riding a wave of confidence after matching Boulder’s six wins.
Saturday’s result foiled Boulder’s hopes of a victory in Jorden Hooks’ 150th game.
Neither Boulder or Kalgoorlie can finish higher than third, but a home first semi-final remains a priority for both squads as the Tigers — who have a bye this weekend — cling to the higher ladder position on percentage.
Camera IconKalgoorlie’s Tyrell Metcalf celebrates after kicking a goal. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner
Ruckman Jordan Angus led the Roos’ effort that brought hard runners such as Jordan Madden, Bailey Norris and Ryan Macdonald into the game that yielded three goals apiece to Jack Martin and Tyrell Metcalf.
Metcalf’s afternoon ended early when he was red-carded in the third term and a benign last quarter ticked down with the sides restricted to two behinds each.
Butterfield, however, had no doubt that Metcalf would be a valuable contributor for the rest of the season after joining the club from Swan Districts’ reserves before the June 30 clearance deadline.
“He’s fit and he attacks the footy with three, four or five consecutive efforts,” Butterfield said.
“But he finishes off his work, too, and to do that with three goals on the weekend was great in terms of getting his confidence levels right up there.”
Boulder were a man down for the run home when Bronson Bishop — who was involved in an earlier incident when Metcalf being sent off — was inexplicably red-carded.
It further hurt the Tigers after captain Jake Nuich was earlier taken to hospital with a dislocated finger among a group already without Brett Blair, Andy Higgins and Cam Grover.
Boulder coach Simon Edwards said Nuich would be available for the Tigers’ next game against Railways on August 17.
“Either side could have won, but our slow start played against us for most of the game,” Edwards said.
“Kalgoorlie, to their credit, had that buffer for most of the game, of two goals and more at times — we didn’t start very well and after half-time there weren’t many goals kicked so it was an arm-wrestle.
“I don’t know what happened with Bronson, but waiting for the next break for him to be sent-off I thought was bizarre.
“At that point, we actually had no bench left — Jake was at the hospital, Stewy Graham had done his shoulder and we had other concerns so that got rid of our bench and we had no rotations for the last quarter.”
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