Goldfields Football League selectors were interested observers when Kalgoorlie onballer Dylan Clarke booted five goals on Saturday in the team’s percentage-boosting win over Kambalda, 18.19 (127) to 3.1 (19), to conclude round 10 in the Goldfields Football League.
Clarke’s hard-working display complemented key forward Michael Stevens’ six goals as the Roos grabbed a third win at Sir Richard Moore Sports Centre.
After three big losses to open the season, Kalgoorlie — under new coach Justin Tarasinski — have won three of their past five matches to move within two points of third-placed Mines Rovers.
Kambalda trailed by just 17 points at quarter-time and limited Kalgoorlie to three goals in the second term.
The Roos, however, blew the game wide open with a seven-goal third quarter and they headed for home with an 86-point buffer.
Kambalda were held to 1.1 after quarter-time.
Clarke was last week among six players from Kalgoorlie who were named to a provisional 40-man GFL squad for next month’s annual Nutrien Ag country championships in Perth.
He shapes up as a key member for the GFL that tackles the 2023 carnival in division two after last year’s winless division one campaign brought relegation.
Stevens, who is not part of the league’s provisional squad, has kicked 14 goals in five games for the black-and-whites in 2023 after initially lining up in the GFL for Kambalda five years ago.
Tarasinski said Stevens could easily have enjoyed an even better match.
“He clunked quite a few (marks) and six (goals) probably doesn’t reflect the opportunities he had,” Tarasinski said.
“I think he kicked 6.7 and missed a couple of others which is uncharacteristic because he’s usually a dead-eye in front of goal.
“He had opportunities to fill his bag a little bit more, but he also created a few (goals) as well and dished others off.”’
A downside to the Roos’ win was an injury to Jacob Billing.
“He just can’t seem to get a run at it, after (sustaining) concussion in the first game and now a broken finger,” Tarasinski said.
“We’ll wait and see if that’s a surgery job or not and what the prognosis is.”
Kalgoorlie, who have a long injury list, have a round 11 bye this weekend before taking on Mines Rovers on June 24.
“We just can’t get continuity in the squad and that was probably reflected in the squad (against Kambalda) when we had 10 out from the week before,” Tarasinski said.
“Hopefully we get a good chunk of those back for the game against Mines Rovers.”
The honours between the clubs this season are split at a game apiece with Mines Rovers successful in round two by 80 points.
Kalgoorlie hit back to win the return clash in round seven by 17 points.
The GFL squad’s first training session under coach Rob Hansen is on June 19 from 6pm at Digger Daws Oval.
A second session will be at Sir Richard Moore Sports Centre on June 26 and the team’s official jumper presentation will take place at Boulder’s clubrooms on July 4.