TRFM Gippsland League’s quest to climb the AFL Victoria rankings has taken a hit, with defeat to archrival Bendigo Football Netball League in Saturday’s WorkSafe Community Championships clash at Warragul.
Bendigo has proven a stumbling block for Gippsland in recent years and so it was again on Saturday, as it suffered a 31-point loss, 17.8 (110) to 12.7 (79).
Having endured three straight defeats in Bendigo – in 2010, 2012 and 2014 – Gippsland was finally given the chance to face their representative football nemesis on home soil, but was unable to make the most of the opportunity.
“They were too good and came to play,” TRFM Gippsland League senior interleague coach Steve Hazelman said.
“Their young kids cracked in and had a real go and put that much pressure on us.
“We had 19 inside-50s to nine in the second quarter, but just couldn’t capitalise. Our forwards didn’t fire on the day, but the ball going in wasn’t very good either.
“The second half was a bit of an arm-wrestle and they just ran away with it in the end.”
Bendigo hit the ground running, with early goals to Hamish Morcom and Tom Toma.
Gippsland skipper Bob McCallum put his team on the board a short time later, but the visitors went into the first break with a 15-point lead.
Despite three second-quarter goals from Leongatha star Chris Dunne for the home side, Bendigo stretched the margin to 18 points at the main change.
Gippsland rallied to close within seven points midway through the third quarter, but that was as close as the red, white and blue were allowed to get.
Hazelman’s men never gave up, but Bendigo had all the answers, kicking six goals straight in the final term.
Dunne finished with five goals and was joined in the best by McCallum, vice-captain Mark Collison, Adrian Slottje, Nathaniel Paredes and Brad Scalzo.
Collison was awarded the AFL Victoria Medal as Gippsland’s best player.
Hazelman said preparation for such games was always a challenge, but made no excuses for the result.
“It would have been better if we could train together more, but geographically it’s too hard with guys coming from as far as Wonthaggi, Bairnsdale and Melbourne,” he said.
“The attitude of the players and the clubs was 100 times better than it was three or four years ago and I have to thank them for that.”
The defeat left Gippsland in 13th place on the rankings and facing the prospect of a third meeting with Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League in six years.
Photos courtesy of Clixz Sports Images
Last Modified on 24/05/2016 15:48