Bairnsdale scored its third win of the season in the Gippsland League reserves, flummoxing a winless Drouin by 110 points at the Bairnsdale City Oval last Saturday in round 11 action.
With Caleb Crofts (eight goals) and former Boisdale-Briagolong player, Ari Fleming (four) combining well up forward, the match was never in doubt, the Hawks having to wait to the final quarter to register its first of two goals.
The Redlegs played their best football in the first half, kicking 11 unanswered goals, operating well as a team, bringing teammates into the play with creative handball.
Among the best for Bairnsdale were Crofts, Tom Selleck, Mat Falls, Samuel O’Kelly, Fleming and consistent veteran Bryan Froud.
The seventh-ranked Drouin claimed a big scalp in the under 18 match, knocking off the third-placed Redlegs on their home patch.
After an even first term, where the Hawks squandered several gettable chances in front of goal, resulting in the Redlegs holding a one-point advantage at the break, Drouin found its range in term two.
Kicking four unanswered goals for the stanza, opening up a 21-point buffer by half time, in a quarter Bairnsdale would like again.
The third term was an even contest, with Drouin again, missing goals it should have banked, as the margin blew out to 24 points.
Bairnsdale finally began to play to its full potential in the final quarter, kicking four goals to one, almost stealing victory from a Hawks side that did enough to earn an impressive victory.
Drouin hanging on to win by three points in a thrilling final five minutes.
Oscar Baylis and Oliver Emmett both kicked three goals for the Redlegs, with the better players being Rex Hargreaves, Baylis, Brayden Fenner, Saxon Buckley, Oska Molinaro and Tarkyn Scott.
Despite the loss, Bairnsdale remain comfortably in the top five, but has dropped to fifth, the surprise loss certainly not ideal for a team that is pushing hard for a double chance spot.
Bairnsdale set up its 15-point victory in the under 16s with four unanswered second terms goals, establishing a 30-point lead by half time.
Despite being outscored in the second half, they banked another four valuable points, currently sitting fourth,
breathing down the neck of Moe, who occupy the all important second double chance spot at present.
Baylis kicked five goals and was joined in the best by Harley Young, Zane Holley, Luca Desio, Jack Hamilton and Hudson Froud who kicked two goals.
Bairnsdale will hit the road this week, heading to South Gippsland to take on Parrots at the Leongatha Recreation Reserve.
