Bairnsdale have scored a vital win at the Bairnsdale City Oval, over Warragul in their quest for a spot in the Gippsland League finals.
The Redlegs dominated the match from the start, and despite a hiccup in the final term when a strong wind got up that favoured the Gulls, they ran out impressive 24-point winners.
After banking the four points, Bairnsdale still sit in sixth place on the ladder trailing fifth placed Morwell by two points, on the same points as this weeks opponent Wonthaggi.
The Tigers staying above Bairnsdale, by scoring a remarkable 22-point win over Leongatha on the road, almost an impossible task in recent seasons.
Bairnsdale kicked five goals to one in the opening term, with coach, Logan Austin (18 disposals) providing a target up forward and finishing with three goals for the afternoon
Ethan East (28) in his 100th senior game was again outstanding in ruck, feeding the Redlegs on ball brigade as well as accumulating more possessions than every other Warragul player except Jack Lewsey (29).
Will Mitchell (35), Lachlan Byrne-Jones (27), Tom Blenheim (23) and Tyran Rees (27) all racked up possessions at will, the Redlegs accumulating an impressive 100 more than their opponent, with their efficiency impressing the coaching panel.
The Bairnsdale goal kicking radar was out of kilt in the third quarter, as they kicked one goal and a disappointing six behinds, but with a lead of 35 points they still looked comfortably.
Remarkably a gale got up during the break, helping the visitors mount a spirited comeback, but with Hugh Longbottom leading the way, playing his best game for the club since joining from the amateurs, the experienced Bairnsdale players insured Warragul never got close enough to really threaten.
Bairnsdale Football Netball Club football manager, Greg McCarrey, was delighted with the win and with the form of his side.
“That’s as good as we have played for a while, our leaders stood up and our onballers got plenty of it, courtesy of Easty, who had a game to remember in his 100th,” McCarrey said.
Bairnsdale escaped without any injury concerns, the only minor hiccup being Ricky Tatnell escaping with two reprimands from the major review panel.
The first one for his part in an incident that saw Warragul coach, Jed Lamb taken to hospital with a shoulder injury that will require surgery.
Best players for the Redlegs were East, Longbottom, Byrne-Jones, Cooper Harvey, Mitchell and Byron Vickery, while the Gulls were well represented by Isaac Wallace, Mitchell Smart, Brad Hefford, Tom Stern, Oliver Wilson and Jack Lewsey.
Bairnsdale face a massive assignment this week, taking on Wonthaggi at their fortress but McCarrey is confident Bairnsdale can get the job done.
“It’s a massive game, but we will go down there full of confidence, thinking we can knock them off, even though they will be close to full strength with Ryan Sparkes returning from Collingwood duty,” McCarrey said.
