A huge crowd gathered at Bairnsdale City Oval last Saturday hoping to see Bairnsdale open the Gippsland League season with a win against Traralgon, but it wasn’t to be, the Maroons getting home by 25 points.
With no other football in the region, Bairnsdale got what it desired, a big crowd, but unfortunately not the four points.
Both sides looked young and open to plenty of improvement as the season progresses, the Maroons welcoming a new era with the departure of big names such as Mark Collison, Brett Eddy, Tom Schneider and Jake Best in the off season.
The Redlegs welcomed youngsters Jesse Bills, Matt Hamilton and Max East for their first senior games, Bills and Hamilton playing after not being selected this week at Gippsland Power.
New recruits, Cooper Harvey, Tom Blenheim and Hugh Longbottom (all VAFA) were in the lineup, as was former Lindenow half back, Josh Lando, while it was also great to see Matt Corbett back in the middle of the action.
All three former Old Scotch players showed that they will be welcome additions for Bairnsdale, particularly when they get to know their new teammates traits, strengths and weaknesses.
Generally, there wasn’t a great deal between the sides, Traralgon just more efficient when they went forward and the Redlegs guilty of coughing up the ball too many times with disappointing clangers which the Maroons made them pay for with quick ball movement and scoreboard pressure.
The difference between the two sides was former Traralgon skipper, Dylan Loprese, who kicked seven goals, constantly marking within range and kicking truly. The Redlegs struggled to find a match up who could match him in the air and on the ground.
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At the other end Bairnsdale coach Logan Austin covered plenty of ground chasing his kicks, often marking deep in the pockets or high on the flanks, making conversion tough.
Austin’s day turned sour in the third quarter when he strained a hamstring that is likely to keep him out for a couple of weeks at least.
The Maroons went into the first break 11 points up and were able to further increase their lead in the second quarter, kicking four goals to two.
Traralgon had a dream start to the second half when Liam Willaton goaled in the first 30 seconds to extend the lead further.
But the Redlegs weren’t done yet, playing their best football for the match in the third term, kicking five goals to three, narrowing the gap to just 12 points at three quarter time, which probably should have been closer, Lachlan Byrne-Jones missing from right in front during time on.
The highlight of the quarter was a sensational goal kicked by Bairnsdale livewire, Tyran Rees, which surely will win goal of the year – it had to been seen to be believed.
Rees was a solid player in the first half but took his game to a new level in the third quarter, causing plenty of headaches for the Maroon defenders. He finished the match with three goals and looks set for big season.
It was Traralgon who finished the game stronger, going home with a slight breeze, they kicked five to one to win comfortably, the Redlegs woes worsened by both Rees and Ricky Tatnell joining Austin on the interchange bench sore.
Traralgon finished the match with the last goal, fittingly kicked by Loprese, who was joined in the best by Tom Hamilton, Jordan Cunico, Ty Hourigan, Willaton and Harvey Neocleous.
Rees, Blenheim, Harvey, Byron Vickery, Lando and Longbottom were prominent for Bairnsdale, who struggled for standout.
The best game of the day was in the reserves where Bairnsdale came from eight points down at three quarter time to win by a solitary point in the closing minutes.
Best players for Bairnsdale were Oscar Clarke, Campbell Moresi, Damon O’Connor, Harrison Cook, Ridge Peters and Logan Dunkley.
The thirds game was a high standard, with the Maroons just too solid late in quarters when the pressure came on.
The Redlegs will certainly benefit from the exercise and were well served by Tyson Matthews, Ryan Cullinan, Jack Saulle, Oliver Emmett, Charlie Cook and Harry McGuinn.
Traralgon dominated the fourths keeping the Redlegs goalless, winning by 144 points with Banjo Nugent-Brown, Luca Desio, Xavier Cook, Harry McGuinn, Saxon Buckley and Cooper Hughes all trying hard for Bairnsdale.
THIS WEEK
Gippsland League action for all clubs will kick off this Saturday with Bairnsdale again at home, this time to Drouin.
The sides staged a scoring war in round three last year at the Bairnsdale City Oval, so this week’s game promises to be a terrific spectacle.
Brayden McCarrey is a likely inclusion for the Redlegs, a much-needed goal kicking option, but with Austin likely to miss, he will return with plenty of weight on his shoulders.
With another big crowd likely to be in attendance, Bairnsdale will be keen to put its best foot forward and make an early statement in what is looming as tight competition.
NETBALL
It was a tough start for the Redlegs at the netball courts with the Maroons victorious in five of the six matches.
Bairnsdale was an impressive winner in the under 15’s, victorious 39-24, Kiara Irish, Ava Langley and Maizy Duck leading the ways for the Redlegs, Langley in exciting form up front shooting 32 goals.
Bairnsdale was certainly competitive against Traralgon in “A” grade, going down by nine goals.
Trailing by five goals at half time, the Redlegs dropped the ball in the third term, the Maroons capatilising and extending the lead to 12.
Bairnsdale played its best netball in the final term, outscoring Traralgon by 11 goals to eight.
Sally Dellar (20 goals) and Anna Mooney (12) worked well up forward for the Redlegs, with the best players being key defender Alison Dwyer, Olivia Betts and Deller.
Bairnsdale was able to comfortably fill three senior netball sides, which all goes well for the future, both “B” and “C” grade extremely competitive despite going down relatively comfortably.
