Bairnsdale was humbled by ladder leader Leongatha last Saturday in round 12 of the Gippsland League at the Leongatha Recreation Reserve.
New addition to the Parrots roster Patrick Ireland starred for his new club kicking 12 goals off the back of a nine-goal performance the week prior against Sale.
The Leongatha juggernaut was in full motion, going into the forward 50 27 more times than the Redlegs and the scoreboard reflected that.
If the Redlegs were to be any chance of causing an upset they needed an attractive start and that wasn’t the case, the Parrots kicking the first five goals of the term.
Bairnsdale goals in time on to Lachlan Byrne-Jones and Cooper Harvey (32 disposals) reduced the quarter time advantage to 25 points.
Ireland kicked two goals early in the second term, taking his first half total to four as the lead stretched out to six goals.
Byrne-Jones’s second shortly after restored the margin to five goals.
The Redlegs played their best football of the match in final 15 minutes of the second quarter as the ball went up and down the ground, only for the respective defences to send it back as goals became hard to come by.
Tyran Rees (34) kicked a goal to give the Redlegs supporters some hope early in term three, but three majors from Ireland quickly had the margin out beyond six goals. Rees’ second for the day restored the margin to 40 points at three quarter time.
Ireland kicked all five of the Parrots majors in the final term as he cashed in on some quality supply, Byrne-Jones breaking the monotony with this third with a late major to Matt Hamilton sealing the final margin at 59 points.
Best players for the Leongatha were Ireland, Aaron Heppell, Luke Bowman, Sam Forrester, Jack Hume and Brok Davidson.
Bairnsdale was well served by Harvey, Tyran Rees, Will Mitchell (43), Byrne-Jones, Tom Blenheim and Damon O’Connor.
The Parrots’ depth, particularly in their bottom six players, was much too strong for Bairnsdale on probably the Gippsland League’s toughest road trip.
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The story of the day was Ireland who thrilled Parrots fans with his leading, marking and ability to finish from tough angles.
Ireland is a top-up player with Casey in the VFL and is hopeful of adding to his one game for the season thus far in back half of the season.
Casey has been relatively injury free this season meaning he hasn’t been called up.
Last season he kicked 111 goals in 20 matches in the Ellinbank and District Football Netball League playing for Buln Buln.
The Redlegs currently sit in seventh place on the ladder with four wins, 12 points and considerable percentage behind the fifth-ranked Wonthaggi.
With finals now out of the equation, Bairnsdale will be looking to emulate
last year’s effort where they won eight matches.
They would need to win four matches on the way home where they play Warragul (home), Maffra (away), Wonthaggi (home), Sale (home), Traralgon (away) and Morwell (home).
It’s possible but given recent form six wins looks a more realistic target.
After the mid season break the Redlegs will welcome fourth placed Warragul to the Bairnsdale City Oval.
