Lindenow won its first match of the season, easily accounting for Lakes Entrance in round seven of the East Gippsland Football Netball League at the Lindenow Recreation Reserve last Saturday.
Both sides went into clash missing key personal but that mattered for little once the game started, both sides desperate for the four points.
The Cats were up and about early with Pat Alexander (three goals) and Lachy Carroll (four) both hitting the scoreboard playing close to goal, with Peter Harrison playing more as a half forward flanker being picked up by the talented Oscar Brazzale.
Lakes gradually worked its way back into the contest, but poor conversion in front of goal would rue their game as they failed to maximise opportunities, particularly in the first half.
Tempered frayed midway through the first team after an untidy collision between Cats veteran Todd Alexander and Seagull youngster Max Stevens. Alexander appeared lucky not have his number taken by the umpires.
When Justin Gould kicked the first of his two goals shortly after the Cats were out to a 14-point lead and looking good.
Some great play from Lakes’ Sam Brown, who never shirks an issue, saw Angus McKenzie mark and goal as time on beckoned.
AJ Stanton and Ben Purnell were having a great dual in the ruck with Gould and Tim Todd getting plenty of hard balls for Lindenow.
Elijah Zagami and Brown combined to get the ball in long and high for the Seagulls where Liam Carroll took a hanger, his conversion for the first of his two goals reducing the lead to a couple of points.
That would have been a good start for the Seagulls considering their shaky start, but the Cats weren’t done, McKenzie missing from the top of the square only to see Lindenow goal twice late in red time, the second from the dangerous Lachy Carroll who was causing Will Addison some issues.
Both sides missed gettable chances early in the second term, Fraser Dostine hit the post for the Seagulls before Pat Alexander missed twice from close range for the Cats as he gave Brendan Bassett the run around.
Goals were hard to come by as both sides’ half back lines controlled play, Harrison’s first of two goals making the lead 20 points, but a late major for the Seagulls saw the deficit a manageable 14 points at the long break.
Both sides had plenty to play for when they returned but it was the Cats who went to another level kicking five goals to one in a sharp and a deadly onslaught, with youngster Ben Rutherford (two goals) making an impact on the scoreboard, as Gould, Todd and coach Brett Waddell inspired their teammates.
The margin was 33 points at three quarter time and Lakes Entrance coach Darren Martin was ropable, telling his players what he thought in no uncertain terms. They responded trading goals with the Cats in the final term but the damage was done, the Cats home by 37 points.
Gould, Stanton, Lachy Carroll, Patrick Alexander, Harrison and Todd were pivotal in the home side’s maiden victory for 2025, while Jordan Cullen, William Addison, Harry Reed, Purnell, Liam Allen and McKenzie were the pick of the Seagulls.
Both sides will enjoy a weekend off courtesy of the King’s Birthday holiday, with the focus quickly turning to next week’s matches where the Seagulls will welcome Orbost Snowy Rovers to the Lakeside Oval in a match they will fancy their chances in.
The Gulls will also fancy their chances, hoping to make it two wins in a row, when they play a struggling Paynesville at AJ Freeman Reserve.
