Hanwood has sent a strong message to any of their opponents this season after picking up a 12-0 victory over Tolland in Wagga on Sunday.
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It was a great game in front of goal for both Chris Zappala and Daniel Rogato, who scored three goals each while Chaise Donetto and newcomer Jordan Austin found the back of the net twice.
Jacob Zanatta and Morgan Forster wrapped up the big win with a goal each.
The Hanwood side underwent changes, with some of the senior members of the side missing while Daniel Johnson was keeping with the one-game suspension to Nicholas Zappala.
Coach Brian Bertolin was proud of the reaction he got from his side despite the adversity.
"I threw down the challenge to young Daniel Rogato, Chaise Donetto and Chris Zappala to really step up with the senior boys, not around them, and they really did," he said.
"They were absolutely brilliant, and the first half was really good.
"Young Jordan Austin had an absolute blinder in his first game for us.
"Danny didn't have a lot to do in goal, but the bit he had to do, he did quite well."
Games like this had been a falling point for Hanwood last season, and Bertolin was pleased to see his side able to put a team away.
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"I said at the start of the game in the changeroom that this is our challenge for today that you come up against a team that got touched up first week and to come in with the right attitude and keep the foot on the throat, so to speak," he said.
"They did that to be 6-0 at half time, and they put another six in the second half. I moved the team around a bit in the second half to challenge them, and they stood up, so I'm really happy with it."
It was that level of consistency that has the Hanwood coach most pleased.
"It would have been easy to just put the cue in the rack at halftime and win 6-2 or 7-3," he said.
"But they just kept it going, which was really impressive."
In another positive to come out of the clash was to come through with a clean bill of health with one eye looking forward to the grand final rematch with Leeton at Hanwood Oval next weekend.
"It is a big game next week, so that will be a different kettle of fish with Leeton," he said.
The defending champions will be coming into the game after a frustrating draw against Tumut, having started the season with a big win over Tolland two weeks ago while Henwood Park defeated Wagga United 4-0.
Hanwood 12 (D Rogato 3, C Zappala 3, C Donetto 2, J Austin 2, J Zanatta, M Forster) def Tolland 0
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