Bairnsdale broke through for its second win of the Gippsland League season in round six, winning a two-point nail-biter against Drouin at the Bairnsdale City Oval last Saturday.
The lead changed numerous times throughout the afternoon as the Hawks and Redlegs played out a high-quality contest between two well-matched sides.
The Redlegs led by five points at quarter time before Drouin kicked five goals to three in the second term to open up a handy nine-point buffer at the main break.
However, the Redlegs came to play in the third term, inspired by Brayden McCarrey, who had struggled for possessions in the first half. As is often the case with McCarrey, he is a player who can get on a quick roll; his busy third term yielded three majors. It was part of a six-goal-to-two Redlegs blitz that opened up a two-goal buffer at the final change.
That margin was quickly erased with early goals to the visitors in the final term, before Tyran Rees put Bairnsdale back in front at the nine-minute mark. That advantage was short-lived, with Noah Lafrantz’s fourth goal for Drouin restoring equilibrium at the 13-minute mark.
Both sides had their chances before Redlegs debutant Oscar Baylis kicked truly at the 20-minute mark, showing maturity beyond his years. Baylis has been given a good grounding in the thirds by the Bairnsdale coaching panel and impressed the previous week playing for Wy Yung in the local competition, where he kicked four goals in his senior debut.
Both sides continued to have solid opportunities to score as the Redlegs’ margin crept out to eight points with just over a minute to play. With only 30 seconds remaining on the clock, that man Lafrantz struck again, reduced the margin to just two points.
In a dramatic finish, the siren prematurely sounded as the ball was being thrown up. After the false alarm, play resumed shortly after, and a Noah Walker torpedo forward from the clearance thwarted a late push for victory from the gallant Hawks.
Gun recruit Oscar Morrison starred for the Redlegs with five goals, nine marks and 25 possessions, ably assisted by play makers Lachlan Byrne-Jones (42 possessions), Cooper Harvey (36) and co-captain Tyran Rees (32).
Jonah Walker impressed with three goals, while youngsters Max Neate and Damon O’Connor played well.
The Hawks led the inside 50 count and won the clearances, however couldn’t capitalise on as many opportunities.
The now seventh-placed Bairnsdale faces a stiff test against undefeated Moe at Newborough this weekend as it looks to remain close to fifth-placed Traralgon which sits four points clear.
