Friday, 29 March 2024
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Winning streak snapped

Winning streak snapped

Bairnsdale’ s impeccable home ground winning streak was snapped emphatically by a ruthless Maffra on Saturday as the Redlegs now gear up for their Gippsland League litmus test against ladder leader, Sale, this Sunday.

The Redlegs are sitting sixth with a game in hand, however are currently eight points outside the top five and need to take a big name scalp and beat the teams below them if they want to see finals action. A number of key players coming back from injury will help their cause.

On Saturday the Redlegs dominated the opening 20 minutes of their clash with the Eagles, leading by 20 points at the opening break after kicking with the aid of a strong breeze, however the visitors never wavered from their short kicking, play on style attacking game plan and eventually broke Bairnsdale’ s back.

A patch of three goals in less than three minutes during the second quarter took the Eagles from a three-goal deficit to their first lead and from there they were never headed, surging to a 48-point win.

The usually accurate Redlegs kicked three goals in the first quarter, however could only muster two more for the match, including just one with the wind in the third term when they needed to make their run.

It’s back to the drawing board for Bairnsdale as it faces its toughest test and arguably its last chance at keeping its finals dream alive this Sunday against Sale at City Oval.

Bairnsdale was unable to maintain its frenetic pace and pressure after quarter time and can ill afford to let the Magpies dictate terms this weekend.

Three early behinds to the Redlegs, largely on the back of relentless pressure, was finally rewarded when Link Robinson drilled a long set shot from the past players’ pavilion pocket at the seven-minute mark of Saturday’ s encounter.

Bairnsdale set up its structure soundly, particularly defensively, with the Eagles unable to gain offensive position on the ground.

Ethan East after a brilliant start in attack goaled roving a boundary throw in for a 15-point lead at the 12-minute mark.

Bairnsdale’ s hot start continued when Callan McKeon delivered with a quick snap on the back of slick hands from Russell Cowan. The lead was out to 22 at the 15minute mark and it was one-way traffic.

The Redlegs were forcing Maffra to kick to one-on-ones and won the majority of them while dominating

at ground level through the likes of Liam Giove, Keenan Hynes, Russ Cowan, Shaun Wyatt and Matt Corbett.

The home side managed to keep the usually prolific Eagles to just three behinds for the term.

Maffra stemmed the flow after the 20-minute mark, however was continually rushed while making its own scoring attempts.

Bairnsdale’ s whole ground defence was outstanding, making it extremely difficult for the Eagles to find avenues to goal, despite tall targets John Butcher and Andrew Petrou being clearly taller than the Redlegs’ tallest defenders in Dylan Somerville and Brayden Radford.

Maffra got the much-needed first goal of the second term through a long John Butcher set shot from the museum pocket, cutting the deficit to 13 after three minutes.

While the Eagles scored the opening goal, Bairnsdale still had the run of play, however Hynes, Kieran Vickery, Robinson, Ryan Halford and East were unable to capitalise on opportunities.

Bairnsdale held a 17-point lead until 13-minute mark when Petrou made the most of an advantage free kick in transition before Lachy Channing and Ben Brunt made it three goals in as many minutes, suddenly handing Maffra a one-point lead.

The Eagles had taken control, locking the ball inside their half as Daniel Bedggood put his side 10 points clear after a Redlegs kick in turnover.

Channing put Maffra 16 points clear with a goal of the year contender, gathering at ground level on the 50m, selling candy to two Bairnsdale players as he opened up an avenue to goal, running in and drilling a beauty.

Maffra held a 17-point lead at the main break, turning the tide significantly with the swing coming at the source the Eagles’ midfield took over and would not let up.

Channing was huge, while Alex Carr’ s long kicking proved pivotal as his side made the most of the strong wind. Maffra won the clearances by five and the inside 50s by eight during the second term.

Again it was Maffra who scored the all-important first goal of the third term the first goal to the city end for the day Danny Butcher extending the Eagles’ lead to 25 at the four-minute mark.

Nathan Dennison got a much needed goal for Bairnsdale following a push in the back free kick against Jarryd Clohesy at the 18minute mark, the Redlegs now trailing by 19 points after 10 minutes of play between the arcs. It was Bairnsdale’ s only highlight of the term and a lucky free kick at that. When Petrou kicked his second goal from a 25m set shot at the 28minute mark, his side had a 24point lead before coming home with the breeze.

It was going to take something special for the Redlegs to fight back against what had a been a significant wind advantage to the morass end.

The game was effectively over as Hudson Holmes marked a Bairnsdale kick in and goaled on the run, pushing the lead to 31 points early in the last.

Bairnsdale was taking the game on, however it was not coming off for the home side with turnovers opening the door for Maffra scoring chances.

Bedggood sealed the deal on the run at the eight-minute mark, extending the margin to 39.

Clohesy and Mitch Bennett also goaled late for the Eagles before Wyatt gave Bairnsdale its only goal into the wind for the afternoon at the 25-minute mark.

Wyatt was a consistent contributor for the Redlegs all afternoon along with Tomm Bryan and Nick Sing, however it was Maffra who had winners all across the ground from Kade Renooy in defence, Danny Butcher, Channing and Carr in the middle and Jack Johnstone at both ends.

RESERVES SLIP, JUNIORS THRIVE

Bairnsdale’ s reserves went down by 19 points at the hands of Maffra, unable to cash in with the wind in the final term.

The Eagles kicked out to a four-goal quarter time lead and while the Redlegs fought back in the second, a goalless final term sealed the home side’ s fate.

Harry Kellow kicked two goals, while Nick Hammond and Charlie Mein performed well.

Bairnsdale’ s under 18s dominated Maffra by 91 points, setting the tone with a 10-goal to two opening half.

Kellow, who later kicked two goals in the reserves, slotted six majors in his first match of the day, while recent senior debutant, Byron Vickery, and Gippsland Power-listed, Jake Richards, kicked three goals each.

Blake Fulton was the side’ s best player.

The Redlegs under 16s claimed a 73-point victory with a seven-goal final quarter sealing a quality performance.

Ben Bockmann, Harry Willmot, James Dore, Tom Stephenson, Dallas Smith and Jobe Somerville kicked multiple goals while Tom Selleck and Liam Carroll impressed.

PICTURED: Bairnsdale’s Shaun Wyatt finds a way through heavy traffic during his side’s 48-point loss to Maffra at City Oval in round 11 of the Gippsland League on Saturday. The loss ended the Redlegs’ home ground winning streak as they gear up to face ladder leader, Sale, this Sunday.


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