The new look Boisdale Briagolong forward line has paid off, defeating Lindenow by 48 in round nine of the East Gippsland Football Netball League last Saturday.
With the Lindenow Oval muddy and sticky, the smaller forward set up immediately payed dividends for the Bombers, with skipper Jimmy Reeves leading the way with four goals, rejuvenated veteran, Callan Egan chipping in with three, and coach Sam Bedggood and the hard running Tom Jolly helping themselves to two each.
Reeves played an isolated role in the goal square, matched against enthusiastic Cats backman, Cassidy Stewart, who battled hard but was found wanting in some of the one-on-one tussles by the bigger bodied Reeves.
The Bombers were out of the blocks early, with ruckman, Matt Wilkinson, giving his side a saloon passage, knocking the ball forward and allowing players like Jolly and the classy Jackson Glenane to run onto the football and kick it into the forward 50, where Egan and Reeves both looked dangerous.
The Cats fought back late in the first quarter, and in the second quarter, where they played their best football of the match, led by Lachy Carroll who was working hard at centre half forward.
They kicked three goals to one to trail by just eight points at half time.
With Justin Gould, Dave Donchi and Brett Waddell working hard through the middle, Lindenow was able to woe the ball forward where classy finishers, Cooper Shaw (three) and Peter Harrison (two) did the rest.
The Bombers regained their mojo in the third term, kicking four unanswered early goals, but the Cats weren’t done, finishing the quarter stronger with late goals, as Waddell led from the front on several occasions, sharking the taps of the dominated Wilkinson, who continued to cause headaches for Lucas Lakay and Alexander Stanton, who were troubled by the brute strength of the man mountain.
Both teams had a steady defender at each end directing the traffic, Bomber Andrew Quirk, although not prolific in possessions, made many timely spoils.
At the other end, the hard working and running Todd Alexander was a constant for four quarters in the clearing the ball from the danger area time after time.
Gallant for three quarters, Lindenow was put to the sword in the final term by the relentless Bombers, who kicked five goals to one as tired legs began to kick in for both sides.
But players like Shaymus Wain, Paddy Mack and Thomas Bradshaw ran riot, as Reeves got off the chain after an enthralling battle with young Stewart.
IMAGE: Boisdale Briagolong’s Tim Dessent returned from injury and was steady across half during his side’s round nine win over Lindenow at the Cattery. INSET: Lindenow young gun Peter Harrison dives to wrap up Bombers recruit Jackson Glenane, who was named his side’s best player.
