Undefeated ladder leader Lucknow blew Lakes Entrance away in the first half of their round 10, East Gippsland Football Netball League fixture at the Lakeside Oval last Saturday.
It was a big day for the Seagulls hosting the heroes of their 1994/95 senior premiership success, but the modern day players didn’t rise to any great heights in the first half.
The Magpies kicked 11 goals in a clinical first half performance, with the hosts only managing a solitary goal in the second term.
Joel McNamara and Link McKenna (three goals) led the way for the Magpies, while their small forwards Ryan Halford, Brenden Flinn and Nick Mooney always looked dangerous and were proving difficult for the Seagulls to match up on.
The super fit McKenna is able to present at every contest making him a thorn in the side of every team in the competition in the back half of the season.
Lucknow looked sharp and was ready to play while the Seagulls weren’t ready for the initial onslaught.
A reset at half time saw Lakes Entrance perform much better in the second half, taking the match right up to the current competition measuring stick, with Jordan Cullen going onto McNamara and stopping his drive from his quarter back role.
This effort impressed the golden oldies and their entourage.
The Seagulls kicked four unanswered goals in the third term as they played the game more on their terms, pleasing coach Darren Martin with their workmanlike play, putting the head over the football and doing the basics right.
“In football you have to be workmanlike to achieve anything, when we switched on and put in the consistent effort in the second half you could see the difference in what we are capable of achieving,” Martin said.
Sam Nickless led the resurgence, controlling the ruck and marking everything across half back, combining well with Mitch Banner on numerous occasions.
The Magpies bounced back in the final term, kicking three goals to one, winning by 51 points, impressing Martin.
“They are a good side, well organised and drilled,” Martin said.
As impressive as they were, coach Shaun Mooney (two), wouldn’t have been totally pleased with the effort, given the half time margin was 63 points.
Martin took some consolation from winning the second half, but was conscious that points aren’t awarded for that.Lakes Entrance had no answer all day for McKenna, who was the dominant player on the ground.
He was joined in the best by Andrew Nelson, Rhys Perkins, Matt Corbett, McNamara and Halford.
Sabastian Etheridge was again outstanding for the Seagulls, but sadly he will be departing this week to live in Queensland.
William Addison and Oscar Brazzale both stood up to plenty of pressure in the back half, Brazzale likely to be a permanent fixture down there in the coming weeks replacing Etheridge.
Bryce Collings and young Caleb O’Donnell both impressed in their return to the side, while Cullen did a great job containing McNamara in the second half, but there was no stopping McKenna.
The Magpies will host Lindenow this week, the Cats keen for a big scalp after pushing the Tigers last week, but Mooney won’t be keen for any unnecessary hiccups at the Magpies’ Nest.
Lakes Entrance will look to bank another win this week when it welcomes the struggling Paynesville to the Lakeside Oval.
