Bairnsdale made it back-to-back Gippsland League victories last Saturday, accounting for nemesis Morwell at the Morwell Recreation Reserve by an impressive 27 points.
The victory moved the Redlegs into the top four, currently occupying fourth spot, one of four sides on two wins.
It was a huge day for the Bairnsdale Football Netball Club, winning all four football matches and four of the six netball games.
Bairnsdale can now enjoy a week off having already played its round three match against Traralgon on Easter Saturday, with a home game against a struggling Maffra its next assignment.
Some tough decisions will need to be made before that match with key players including coach Logan Austin, midfielder Tom Blenheim and swingman Xavier Richards expected to all push for selection after missing through injury.
The temptation may be to err on the side of caution and give them an extra week off, which certainly hasn’t been a luxury Bairnsdale has enjoyed in this stint in the Gippsland League.
THE MATCH
In a tough and torrid game played largely in congestion, Bairnsdale dominated the clearances but it wasn’t shown on the scoreboard until late in the match.
Nothing separated the sides at quarter time with the home side side seven-point leaders at half time.
The first 20 minutes of the third stanza was an arm wrestle with the ball going up and back as both sides attacked at will only to be denied by respective solid defences.
Bairnsdale regained the lead midway through quarter, only for the Tigers to hit back as time on beckoned, Brandon Mcauliffe slotting his second.
It was the Redlegs who finished the quarter strongly, kicking two vital goals in junk time to set up a nine-point lead at three quarter time.
Both goals were clutch, Brayden McCarrey delivering from outside 50 after a mark and then Ethan East from 40 metres on the angle after a tough contested mark.
There was plenty at stake in the final term with the clubs trading goals early, but the Tigers couldn’t get within 15 points, the Redlegs having all the answers, finishing the match strongly kicking five goals to two in the final term to win by 27 points.
McCarrey was pivotal, kicking five goals, including the sealer early in time on, while emerging forward Max East was again a target all day and was finally rewarded with three goals.
Good players for Bairnsdale were plentiful, but the standouts were Ricky Tatnell (21 disposals), Ethan East (24), McCarrey, Randall Stewart (23), Lachlan Cloak and Link McKenna (23).
Another positive for Bairnsdale is the form of Traralgon, its round one conqueror, narrowly beaten by reigning premier Leongatha in round two and too good for the highly rated Moe on Saturday night.
In the reserves Bairnsdale remains unbeaten after three rounds, turning a nine-point half time lead last Saturday into a superb 37-point win.
Logan Dunkley was in sensational form up forward kicking eight goals in a standout performance, well supported by Rohan Blandford, Nicholas Ward, Jamie Dore, Mitchell Toms and Liam Bleyswyk.
Bairnsdale opened its account for the season with a well earned 63-point victory in the thirds off the back of five unanswered second term goals.
Jonah Walker and Jobe Froud both kicked three goals each, with Oliver Emmett, Ryan Cullinan, Tyson Matthews, Fabian Russo, Michael Dunstan and Josh Dorling all pivotal in the victory.
The Redlegs moved into the top four in the fourths with an emphatic 100-point demolition of the Tigers.
Kael Frith (four) and Hudson Froud (three) were impressive up forward, feasting on the good work of Oliver Simpson, Charles O’Byrne, Jobe Froud and Campbell Moncrieff.
NETBALL
It was a big result for the Redlegs in “A” grade netball, winning its first match of the season at the of expense of 2022 premier and 2023 runner-up.
Bairnsdale took some time to settle with Morwell’s full court defence proving to be a problem, but with some positional changes, momentum swung. By half time the Redlegs were back in it, trailing by just three goals.
The third quarter proved to be the match winner, the Redlegs dominating the defensive end and capitalising on the many turnovers of the under pressure Tigers.
Holding a six-goal lead going into the last quarter, it was going to be a test for the young Bairnsdale outfit but they were up for the task, running away by 10 goals.
Best players for the Redlegs were Alison Dwyer and Brielle Malady while Anna Mooney shot 20 goals and Olvia Betts 16.
In “B” grade Morwell was out of blocks early, quickly establishing a winning lead, eventually 13-goal winners, with Maddie Fullgrabe and Kayla Neilson among the better players for the Redlegs.
It was a similar scenario in “C” grade with the Tigers home by 14, with Sole Herman and Remy Clarke both having good games for the Redlegs.
Some great results in the junior matches for Bairnsdale, the under 17s leading the way with a 24-goal victory, with Rose Langley and Heidi Allen both in superb form.
Bairnsdale, led by Olivia Pearson and Maizv Duck, dominated the under 15s, winning by 55 goals, while under 13s were also easy winners by 22 goals, with Isla Scicluna and Morgan Soulsby leading the way.
