Roos in stunning fight-back
Last-placed Kalgoorlie added another twist in the run to the Goldfields Football League's finals series with a stunning victory over defending premiers Railways on Saturday.
Easily the squad's best performances of the season, the Roos fought back from a 31-point half-time deficit to outscore their highly fancied rivals eight goals to none and win by 14 points, 12.10 (82) to 9.14 (68).
The result was a tonic for coach Brendon Simpson and his charges, who are rebuilding in 2015 after three successive grand final appearances.
But the club's second win did not come easily, with the opening term miserable for the black and whites who trailed by 19 points after six minutes and did not venture inside the offensive 50m arc until the 14 minute mark.
It was all too easy early for Railways, with key forward Ryan Edwards taking advantage of the Panthers' midfield dominance with two goals.
By half-time, Edwards and tenacious captain Rhett Foster each had three goals.
Kalgoorlie had played listless football to half-time and a revival appeared unlikely.
The Roos, however, came out an inspired unit and edged within six points after consecutive goals to Jack Chamberlain, Eddie Ryder (two) and star forward Matt Battye.
Battye, whose previous three matches yielded 20 goals but was starved of supply in the first half, then levelled the scores with a goal nine minutes into the third term.
Suddenly, Railways had no answers to the sustained pressure of Kalgoorlie, who hit the front for the first time with Dale Beeson's goal late in the quarter after a defensive turnover.
The margin was just five points at the last change and Railways missed an early chance in the final quarter to regain the lead by hitting the post.
Battye then slotted two goals, one a brilliant snap and the other a set shot from a tight angle, to put Kalgoorlie on a path to victory.
The game was held up late in the last term when Railways' Alek Oliver was stretchered off, but his teammates managed only five behinds as Kalgoorlie dictated terms to the final siren.
