| EAST GIPPSLAND NEWSPAPERS 4 EGFNL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 BOMBS AWAY - Boisdale Braigolong’s premiership bonanza - Boisdale Briagolong has broken a 23-year senior premiership drought, a convincing 32-point victor over Lucknow at Bairnsdale City Oval in the 2024 East Gippsland Football Netball League (EGFNL) senior grand final last Saturday. Not since back-to-back flags (2000-2001) in the now defunct Riviera Football League, under the guidance of Wayne Butcher, who went on to form a dynasty at Maffra, have the Bombers tasted ultimate glory. Both sides went into the finale high on confidence, knowing if they got it right on the day the premiership would be theirs for the taking. Nothing separated the two combatants through the first two quarters, the Bombers making their play for victory during the third term after a Tom Jolly goal after the half time siren delivered the Bombers a nine-point half time lead. The Magpies hung tough early in the third but through sheer persistence and the build up of repeat inside 50s, the Bombers eventually cracked both Lucknow and the game. With their three gun midfielders gathering 99 possessions between them, led by Jackson Glenane (35), Kel Porter (34) and Jolly (30), the Bomber juggernaut was up and running in the third term, as Sam Park, Andrew Nelson, Conor McAuliffe and Steve Bertino worked hard to stop scoring opportunities. The first of the term came from Lucknow's Jake Green, his classy snap narrowing the margin to just five points as Lucknow skipper Jesse Glassborow tried to tag Porter out of the game unsuccessfully. When the Magpies went forward, they struggled for marks, which was disappointing given they had targets like John Gooch, Jessie Pescod, Bayley Croucher, Dallas and Jackson Smith in the area. Andrew Quirk, Shamus Wain, Billy Marshall and Rhys Johnson stood tall under plenty of pressure for Boisdale. Dallas Smith limped to the bench with blood coming from his mouth midway through the third quarter. That would be the last he was seen. That evened the numbers up slightly, the Bombers losing Cal Egan and Tim Dessent early on in the match with leg and shoulder injuries respectively. Dessent was involved in a bone-crunching collision with Nelson, when both players had their eyes fixated on the football. Dessent was looking like having a big afternoon prior to the incident. Paddy Mack and Joel McNamara both had chances to goal, the latter failing to make the distance, before the Bomber tactic of resting the competition runner-up best and fairest close to goal, Matt Wilkinson, finally paid dividends, the big man marking and converting from close range early in time on. Boisdale wasn't done. It had finished the first two quarters strongly, and the third would be the same resulting in eight of their 15 majors being kicked in time on. Coach Sam Bedggood (three goals), who had plenty of stints on the bench throughout the day, but was fruitful when on the field, made the margin 18 points when he swooped on a loose advantage ball after a holding infringement and kicked truly on the run. Shortly after he marked an errant kick from Pescod and to Bombers' supporters delight he goaled after the three quarter time siren to make it a four-goal game. Both coaches gave plenty of instructions at the final change, calling on their charges for the ultimate effort. Bedggood asked his players to drive the advantage home and reward everyone around the club who has been waiting 23 long years. The Magpies were going to need to kick the first goal if they were too have any chances. They moved Pescod into the ruck, however that was quickly thwarted when Jolly (four goals) kicked a sensational snap in the opening minute to make the margin 30, and before Lucknow could even assess the damage, he had marked and converted again, and the drought was about to be broken. Jolly's four goals and truckload of possessions was enough to earn him the best-onground award from ball winners Glenane and Porter, the latter who racked up 14 disposals in the final term. Skipper Jim Reeves (four goals) made it three Bomber goals in as many minutes, receiving from Nicoll Sandison as party time began, the heat coming out of the game for the final 20 minutes. Reeves had a great battle with Stevie Bertino, who certainly wasn't disgraced. Sandison, who looked unlikely to play until late in season due to injury, started back but took some great marks in forward 50 in the final three quarters. John Gooch got one back for the Magpies, turning former Sale premiership teammate Quirk inside out, before Will Brunt took the lead out to 42 points again, the Bombers going inside 50 for the eighth time for the term while Lucknow only twice in corresponding time. Brunt was busy across half forward all day, doing a mountain of work leading up and back, while proving very handy as ruckman at boundary throws in and ball ups around the 50, allowing Wilkinson and last week's surprise inclusion Toby Leeds to play a kick behind the play. Wilkinson and Leeds nullified the work of Dion Grace and Jake Richards, who were pivotal in the semi final win a fortnight prior. The pacy Ryan Halford, who enthralled the crowd with several exciting runs throughout the match, and Nelson, who ended up forward, kicked late goals to narrow the final margin to 32 points, Nelson after a magnificent soccer volley from McAuliffe hit him flush on the chest. McAuliffe, a mid-season addition for the Magpies, entertained the crowd with his magnificent field kicking and stout defence, an indication he might have a bright future ahead if concentrates on the oval ball game. Nelson certainly wasn't as effective across half back in this match as in the previous encounter between the two sides, the Leeds inclusion one of a number of ploys used by the Bombers to stem his effectiveness. Pandemonium broke out as the final siren sounded, supporters streaking onto the ground to embrace their new heroes, who had finally broken the 23-year-old hoodoo. MAGPIES' HOT START Earlier in the match the Magpies pulled the first surprise, sending Pescod forward while it was no surprise to see big game player Porter get the first possession. The footy was hot early, as the umpires did a great job controlling the game, led by 14-yearold Josh Kool, who was joined in his first EGFNL senior grand final by Alastair Micallef and veteran David Pachl. Egan was done for the day in the first 90 seconds as Halford and Glen Perkins ran the wings, the inside 50s all Lucknow's early. If not for the good work of Leeds the damage could've been greater than just the first three goals for the Magpies. Stoppages were aplenty as Billy Marshall, Sandison and Quirk defended grimly. Gooch got the first of the game after he snatched a ball out the back from Ryan Marshall, who was none the wiser. The Lucknow bench was up and about when Daniel Johnson cleaned up McNamara, Green marking the kick and converting his first. Daniel Johnson did plenty of heavy lifting in the middle as Porter, Jolly and the fleet-footed Glenane went to work. The margin was 19 points shortly after as Lucknow's domination continued, Ryan Marshall's day getting worse when he didn't rush through a behind, only to get a bad bounce and Bayley Croucher kick a goal. Things could have been worse for Boisdale, when Logan Croucher couldn't convert from 25 metres after a throw was paid after multiple stoppages. Logan Croucher was a replacement for veteran Magpie, Brendan Flinn, who was suspended after the semi final for rough conduct. The game began to even up as the quarter progressed, late goals from Bedggood and Jolly in time on, bringing the margin back to just seven points. BOMBERS GATHER STEAM The second quarter was the most prolific of the match, with 10 goals kicked, six for the Bombers who seized the lead, and four for the Magpies, the lead changing five times before the Bombers gained ascendancy. Junior Bradshaw started the term forward for the Bombers and they were immediately rewarded with a strong mark and super finish. That was off the back of Nick Marshall missing a chance after umpire Pachl dished out consecutive 50 metre penalties. Green's second restored the lead to seven points, before Brunt found Reeves, the skipper finally on the board. Green goaled again, his goal kicking becoming a feature of the game, before Reeves again slotted it through for Boisdale after Park should have pushed it through for a point. Logan Croucher then redeemed himself, with a cool conversion, before Sandison drifted forward and made a difficult shot look easy. Jackson Smith put the Magpies back in front at the 25-minute mark, only for Reeves to strike again and put his Bombers back in the lead as the Glenane and Porter show continued to impress with poise and execution. Jolly marked on the siren, his conversion, as cool as you like, giving his side a nine-point advantage and the momentum going into the long break. That momentum proved crucial in the mindset of at least one side in the third term. Boisdale Briagolong star Tom Jolly has the crowd in the palm of his hands in an enthralling start to the final quarter of the senior East Gippsland football grand final against Lucknow at Bairnsdale City Oval. The best-on-ground medal winner kicked two goals in the opening two minutes to finish with four for the afternoon, including a pressure snap which prompted this reaction. K135-1921 ORDER YOUR COPY newspaperphotos.com.au
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