Bairnsdale suffered a disappointing loss to Moe by 17 points in round 14 of the Gippsland League played at the Bairnsdale City Oval last Saturday.
In a much-anticipated game for both teams, unfortunately mother nature didn’t get the memo and provided a horrific day for both teams.
The loss sees the Redlegs drop out of the top five, sitting two points behind the fifth-placed Morwell, on equal points with seventh-placed Wonthaggi, a game behind fourth-placed Sale.
On paper it was a match with some intriguing match ups, beginning with Chris Prowse and Ethan East in the ruck, and Ben Daniher and Will Mitchell (39 disposals) at their feet.
The game started scrappy, given the blustery conditions, with both rucks feeding their onballers. Trent and Riley Baldi extracted plenty of ball for Moe, while Mitchell and Matt Corbett were in and under for the Redlegs.
Key Bairnsdale defender Hugh Longbottom had the job on Lions danger man Declan Kielty (four goals), while Tyler Pratt had the blanketing role on the wizard they call Brayden McCarrey (three goals).
Bairnsdale dominated play at the beginning, however it was Moe who drew first blood with the opening major.
The Redlegs were continually attacking and Cooper Harvey was constantly hitting targets coming out of half back, but unfortunately for the Redlegs their final kick going inside 50 and their finishing was letting them down.
Even though the Redlegs controlled the game, Moe hit them on the counter attack and ended up with the ascendancy at quarter time leading by a point, due to their efficiency up forward.
Scott Van Dyk outstanding for the visitors repelling every Bairnsdale attack, while Riley Baldi had plenty of the ball in the middle.
As the quarter wore on Ethan East started getting on top and Mitchell was continually handballing out of congestion.
The second quarter started much like the first and Bairnsdale just couldn’t capitalise.
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Their delivery to coach Logan Austin and McCarrey made it difficult, while Rees was starting to build into the game.
Young Ryan Cullinan was starting to make his mark, starting plenty of attacks with support from Josh Lando, who was keeping a close eye on Nick Prowse.
Moe started to get on top in the midfield through Daniher and the Baldi brothers, who were starting many forward thrusts, while Van Dyk and Brock Smith were outstanding on the last line of defence.
Longbottom was keeping Kielty quiet, however he wasn’t able to get his usual run off the back line.
Through Moe’s efficiency they were able to hold a handy 16-point half time lead with the Redlegs failing to score in the second term.
The game continued along the same lines in the second half, the usual suspects for both teams battling it out in the scrappy conditions.
Bairnsdale was always within striking distance, but never really looked in the game.
Ethan East continued to dominate in the ruck as Lachie Byrne-Jones started to get some fantastic movement with his run and carry.
The Baldis for Moe and Mitchell for Bairnsdale continued to rack up possessions at will.
The Lions led by 15 points at the last break, coach Austin asking his players for one last huge effort.
The last quarter ebbed and flowed with both teams kicking multiple majors, unfortunately for Bairnsdale, Kielty started to dominate and his presence both up front and down back willed Moe to a match-winning lead.
Bairnsdale came with a late surge with some quick goals to McCarrey and Randall Stewart, however another centre clearance from Riley Baldi sealed the Redlegs’ fate as Harrison Sim ran on and kicked the sealer.
Ethan East and Mitchell were outstanding for the Redlegs. They were well supported by numerous others without any other real standouts.
Moe was best served by Riley and Trent Baldi, with Van Dyk outstanding in the back half.
Coach Kielty stepped up when he needed to and proved the match winner in the last quarter.
It was a disappointing loss for the Redlegs who went inside 50 metres 22 more times than Moe, while monstering the clearances 50 to 31.
Not surprisingly, Bairnsdale had 32 more possessions than the Lions, who were far more effective, deserving their hard-fought victory.
Bairnsdale was helped by other results on the weekend, however it faces a tough month to earn a finals spot.
