Following hard-fought wins against Lindenow and Lucknow, premiership favourite Boisdale Briagolong recorded a comfortable 163-point victory over Paynesville at AJ Freeman Reserve last Saturday.
The struggling Gulls were held goalless through the first three quarters before stemming the damage with two late majors in the final term as the Bombers ran out dominant winners, 26.17-173 to 2.2-14.
With star midfield trio Kade Renooy (four goals), Kelvin Porter (six) and Tom Jolly (five) spending time forward, they combined with club captain Jim Reeves (four) to kick 19 of the Bombers’ 26 goals on a clear afternoon for football.
With ruckman Andrew McKenzie sidelined through injury, Ben Wilkinson stepped up to lead the ruck. In the absence of tall forward options Nicol Sandison and Matt Wilkinson, Reeves welcomed the target support as Boisdale Briagolong delivered a consistent four-quarter effort, kicking 13 goals in the first half and 13 in the second.
Matt Wilkinson returned via the reserves, kicking three goals and playing three quarters on an injured knee.
Despite the margin, Paynesville competed strongly throughout the afternoon. Harry Gibbs, Mitchell Willmott, Ben McKinnon, Judah May, Bryce Riches and Nathan Dean were named among the best for the home side.
Renooy, Jolly, Porter, Matthew Hinks, Ben Wilkinson and Will Brunt led the list of best performers for the visitors.
Selection will pose a puzzle for co-coaches Sam Bedggood and the Renooy brothers in coming weeks as several key players return to fitness. Operating at the maximum 41-point player cap on Saturday, squad rotations will require careful management.
McKenzie (three points) is expected to replace debutant Hamish Germaine (three points), while only one of four-point reserves players Bayden Dowsett and Declan Scriven can be integrated into the top 22. Two-point player Harry Swarski will contend with Jack Davidson for a senior spot.
The Bombers expect to welcome back single-point players Jackson Glenane, Matt Wilkinson and Nick Marshall as early as this week, with Sandison, Jordan Stubbe, Tyson Daly and Jy Higgins — who kicked seven goals in the reserves — also in line for selection.
Boisdale Briagolong returns home to face Wy Yung this Saturday in a potential grand final preview, while Paynesville travels to Lucknow looking to turn around a tough run of form.
