Bairnsdale moved from third to second on the Gippsland League thirds ladder when it finished too strong for a wayward kicking Traralgon in round eight action at the Bairnsdale City Oval.
The Maroons dropped from second to fourth after the 15-point loss at the hands of the gutsy Redlegs.
Bairnsdale led by four points at half time before the Maroons had the better of play in the third term with the breeze but weren’t able to capitalise, taking a one-point lead at the final break which was ultimately not going to be enough.
Traralgon was kept scoreless in the final term as emotions ran high, the Redlegs’ two majors enough to see them home in a tough contest.
Saxon Buckley, Harry McGuinn, Chidi Otuonye, Kael Frith, Rex Hargreaves and Campbell Reed all got plenty of football for the winners.
In the reserves, second ranked Traralgon was way too classy for Bairnsdale, who were kept goalless in the first half.
In that time the Maroons booted 11 unanswered majors. The second half was significantly better as the Redlegs found the
middle of the goals twice and restricted Traralgon to just six, as they ran out easy 98-point winners.
Leading the way for Bairnsdale was Michael Dunstan, who was part of the Redlegs’ under 18 side last season, Harrison Cook, Daniel Kurrle, Max East and Matthew Hamilton.
It was great to see East get his hands on the football after being omitted from the senior team this week, while Hamilton again impressed in his 50th match for the Redlegs, pushing his case for a return to the senior team sooner rather than later.
After a promising start the Bairnsdale fourths were blown away by Traralgon in the final three quarters, going down by 138 points as the Maroons maintained their unbeaten beginning to the season.
The Redlegs matched the ladder leaders in the first term, trading goals early before late majors to the Maroons saw them open up a handy 14-point buffer at the first break.
From there it was all Traralgon as they piled on 20 goals to a solitary Redlegs six pointer, the Maroons showing why they are the premiership favourite.
Oscar Baylis, Daniel Martin, Harley Young, Tom Carter, Luca Djokic (two goals) and Archer Crawley were all solid performers for Bairnsdale in a disappointing result.
Despite the loss the Redlegs still remain in fifth place on the ladder, a game ahead of Sale and Leongatha.
Bairnsdale will take on Morwell next Saturday at the Morwell Recreation Reserve.
