Kalgoorlie opens winning account as Gascoyne bags four against Eagles

Kalgoorlie cashed in on a fast start to beat Kambalda by 70 points, 14.16 (100) to 4.6 (30), for their first win under new coach Rick Butterfield on Saturday to complete round four in the Goldfields Football League.

The Roos, who opened the season with three defeats, headed to Kambalda West Oval under significant pressure but they responded with 4.4 to quarter-time against the 2023 wooden-spooners.

Kambalda were held to two behinds at the initial break and conceded more ground in the second term when Kalgoorlie added 3.6.

Despite the Roos’ inaccuracy, they headed into the half-time break with a lead of 44 points.

It ensured the danger game the black-and-whites had expected did not eventuate, but the Eagles maintained the fight with a two-goal last term while limiting the damage to three goals in the third quarter.

Glenn Gascoyne, promoted to Kalgoorlie’s senior team after hauls of five, three and four goals in three reserves games to open the season, was the pick of the forwards with four majors.

Butterfield said he hoped Gascoyne, who booted 85 goals in 17 reserves games last season, could maintain similar production in the league team.

“He attracts a key defender, and we try and stretch our opponents that way by having a fair few bigs up there (in attack),” Butterfield said.

“Glenn has kicked big bags of goals in the reserves and we’re hoping he can do the same up in the ones.”

Boulder recruit Jack Martin enjoyed his best return since joining the Roos with three goals, and Ricky Whitehead kicked two.

After two games at the helm, Butterfield said he was feeling more confident in the role following Justin Tarasinski’s departure.

“It was definitely good to get the monkey off our back,” he said.

“Overall, it was a pretty good team effort.

“We perhaps got a bit lucky at the start because they (Kambalda) came at us hard, were beating us around the ground, and didn’t convert, whereas we made the most of our opportunities.

“They had a few boys go down with injuries later in the game, so they were pretty light-on and others doubled up (after earlier playing in the reserves) which makes it hard at any time, but especially on a hot day.”

Among Kambalda’s forwards, Curtis Bennell-Dautanac kicked two goals, with singles for Brayden Sprigg Dos Santos and Matt Bennell.

Kalgoorlie have a bye this weekend, ahead of a round-six clash with Railways on May 11.