BOYS against men. It is a phrase often applied to football, and it has rarely been as fitting a description as it was at Bright on Saturday.
A Whorouly line up featuring names like Wayne Millis, Luke Matheson, Adam Pascoe, Gene Marek, Richard Leahy, Michael Nixon and Trevor Vyner took on the Mountain Men, or rather the Mountain Boys, and showed no mercy, running away with a 129-point victory.
While the match was competitive enough in the first half, at times it appeared as if the Lions were toying with their opponents, and should have been further ahead.
Apart from the afore-mentioned names, Whorouly also unveiled its big recruit former Richmond-listed utility Kyle Archibald with great success.
The 194cm Archibald played a number of different positions, including the midfield, and proved damaging wherever he went.
Archibald wasn't the only new face in the side Luke Elkington, Tom Scullie, and Brett and Scott McNamara also took their places in the line up.
Elkington, who played more than 100 games at Wangaratta Rovers, and whose father Stuart won a Baker Medal at Whorouly in 1970, slotted in nicely across half back and through the middle.
But the injury-plagued veteran was out of the match by half time with a leg complaint.
It was only after the long break that the Lions truly clicked into gear.
Liam Harrington, whose trademark speed and silky skills were back at the level he displayed on his way to winning the club's best and fairest in 2010, ran into an open goal to put the margin out to 44 points.
Then it was time for the big forwards to fire, as Marek and Leahy took over.
The pair booted nine goals between them during a third quarter blitz that blew the match wide open.
In total, Whorouly piled on 12.3 for the period to extend its lead to 95 points at the final change.
It wasn't as if Bright was completely incompetent the Mountain Men managed three goals for the term, including two lovely long set shots from recruit Nick Howden.
But the Lions were bigger, stronger and smarter.
With Pascoe dominating in the ruck, Vyner and Brett McNamara winning the hard ball, and Archibald and Harrington running it forward, Bright was simply out of its depth.
Leahy and Marek generally had the ball served up to them on a silver platter, and if it wasn't they would use their strength and nous to ensure they still got their hands on it.
The last quarter saw the misery continue for Bright, while Whorouly went on with the job.
With Elkington and Nixon done for the day the bench was thin, but the Lions didn't stop running.
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
IN THE CLEAR: Whorouly's Brett McNamara (left) gets a handpass away, while (inset) Bright's Michael Sullivan collects Luke Elkington with a bump.
PHOTOS: Scott Anderson
TOUGH CONTEST: Bright's Michael Sullivan collects Whorouly's Luke Elkington with a well timed bump on Saturday.
PHOTO: Scott Anderson
Last Modified on 15/04/2012 19:21