SATURDAY’S win over Buninyong was the one all Newlyn supporters were desperate for.
Victory against an established top-four team accustomed to finals had eluded the Cats in recent times, but their fighting 27-point triumph over the highly-regarded Bombers has somewhat justified their pre-season hype.
Newlyn is now one of just three undefeated teams after the opening three rounds of the Central Highlands Football League season.
A list of big-name recruits, including a new joint coaching panel, had many tipping the Cats would rocket up the ladder in 2012, and if the weekend’s effort against the Bombers is anything to go by, it seems the blue and white hoops are poised for a long-awaited return to finals.
Joint playing coach Adam Sewell was happy with the victory, but refused to get ahead of himself so early in the season.
“It was certainly very pleasing to beat a quality side like that and the way we went about the win was probably the most pleasing aspect,” Sewell said.
“We had everyone contribute to the win and no one really stood out. We played the way we wanted to and the scoreboard took care of itself.”
Sewell, who was named among the Cats’ best players on Saturday, said Newlyn had pushed good teams in the past, but struggled to beat them.
“I think it’s been some time since the club beat quality opposition that was a real contender,” he said.
Newlyn has the chance to really cement its place in the top four in the coming weeks, with a good run of matches in the lead-up to the competition break after round seven.
The Cats will face a hard contest against Bungaree this weekend, before winnable clashes against Illabarook, Ballan and Carngham-Linton.
Newlyn then takes on Skipton, Springbank and Rokewood-Corindhap before reigning premiers Waubra in round 11.
DAYLESFORD star Michael Cummings has decided to take a one-week set penalty after he was reported for striking in the Bulldogs’ four-point win over Hepburn on Saturday.
Cummings had his number taken for a strike on Hepburn recruit Josh Clissold midway through the final term.
The incident proved a turning point in the match at Daylesford, and sent the big crowd into a frenzy.
The Bulldogs trailed by more than four goals at the time, but stormed home with six of the last seven majors to win a thrilling Spa Country Derby.
Cummings played an important role in the victory, proving elusive through the midfield and up forward, where he booted three goals.
Meanwhile, Waubra’s injury woes have continued, with John Coleman expected to miss up to a month with a hamstring strain.
Coleman, who sat out the round two clash with Gordon, re-injured the hamstring during the Roos’ win over Carngham-Linton on Saturday.
He joins the likes of midfielder Shaun Mullane (knee), ruckman George Russell (back) and spearhead Lee Brown (calf) on the casualty list.
Brown, however, is expected to return this weekend against Dunnstown.