There was plenty of excitement in the Boisdale Briagolong changerooms after its narrow defeat of Wy Yung in the East Gippsland Football Netball League preliminary final at Lindenow last Saturday.
Coach, Sam Bedggood, was delighted that his charges had risen to the occasion and their chance at redemption was alive off the back of the efforts of 22 players.
“I put it on the boys that we would need the effort of 22 blokes to get over the line and thats exactly what I got. One more game to go, another dog fight, another game where we can’t afford to leave anything out there,” Bedggood said.
The Bomber coach, who will relinquish his role after Saturday’s grand final against Lucknow at the Bairnsdale City Oval, was full of praise of the efforts of skipper, Jim Reeves, and half back, Thomas Bradshaw.
“Jimmy (Reeves) was sensational, he missed a few early and missed a few last week, but he kept fighting and couldn’t miss in that vital last term,” he said.
“Junior (Bradshaw) hasn’t had a great season, I put it on him post match that he needed to lift and I thought he played his best match for the season, still with some improvement,” Bedggood said.
Runner-up in the East Gippsland Football Netball League best and fairest, Matt Wilkinson, was both delighted with the result and emotional to be heading to the big dance.
Wilkinson was working in Western Australia last season and only made fleeting appearances in the reserves. 2024 has seen the former goalkicker assume the mantle of number one ruckman, after the departure of Jarrad Neilson to Buchan.
“It was a tough day, the wind made it tough but we hung in there after not capitalising on our chances, Jimmy (Reeves) was sensational in getting us over the line, all our energy now goes in next week,” Wilkinson said.
Reeves was keen to play down his efforts and focus on his team’s outstanding effort and what is ahead.
“It was a great win and hopefully we can right last year’s wrong. I think we are a better side, most of the blokes have now played three years together,” a modest Reeves said.
