To be the best, you've got to beat the best, and at the moment the Lakes Entrance senior footballers are a long way from being the best after being handed a football lesson by Lindenow at home in round 11 of East Gippsland football last Saturday.
The Seagulls were defeated by 71 points, but the damage could have been much worse had the Cats taken their kicking boots to the Lakeside Oval.
It was a definite eye-opener for Lakes who was beaten in all areas of the ground, made to look like a second tier team with a lot of hard work ahead of it before finals time.
The midfielders presence, other than that of ruckman Andrew Stevens, was extremely small as the Cats dominated the clearances and gained lots of uncontested possessions around the ground.
The first term was played for the majority in Lindenow's attacking half of the ground as it piled on 12 scoring shots to just three, but the Seagulls were very lucky to be trailing by just 14 points when it quite easily could have been near a 50-point margin.
At first glance to the scoreboard it suggested Lakes defenders were doing a deplorable job, but for the shear weight of ball continually flying deep into the Cats forward 50m zone the Seagulls were doing an okay job.
The midfielders had little of the ball and the forwards weren't presenting when the opportunities were there.
But the fact the Lindenow was dominating all over the field in the first term didn't change the way Lakes played in the second quarter as it continually coughed up the ball and refused to run and chase when it didn't have the ball, instead sitting back to watch the onslaught unfold.
Again it was the midfielders Mark Baylis, Bayden Ashwood and Justin Gould that were causing the Seagulls grief, pushing forward time and time again, setting up goals and Ashwood too chiming in with a couple of his own. Lakes looked unaccountable, uninterested and clearly outplayed by a well-drilled Lindenow outfit.
But again the Cats were inaccurate and had left the door slightly ajar for a Seagulls fight back, the home side down by 32 points at the long break.
After a few positional changes and a renewed enthusiasm to start the third term, Lakes matched the Cats intensity and looked as if it could slowly break down the margin.
But that went out the window in the latter stages of the quarter as again Lindenow took control, getting on top to take a 43-point advantage into the last term, which it again completely dominated.
If not for a couple of discipline errors from the Cats, Lakes was staring down the barrel of a 100-point defeat.
Lindenow was completely in control. Players were running loose all over the ground, forwards were beginning to get on top of their opponents, and in general play the Seagulls were smashed.
The end margin of 71 points was flattering considering how poorly Lakes played and how good the Cats were for the entire day.
Daniel Zammit was one that held his head high deep in defence as he grows as a defender with each week.
Jesse Beha was lively up forward in the second half and provided the spark early in the third term while Andrew Stevens again was the dominant big man on the ground, as well as sneaking forward to slot three majors.
On the upside Lakes has plenty to improve on and should welcome back Jason Carstairs this week and Xavier Ryan in the next couple.
RESERVES
The seconds were too handed a big football lesson by the Cats, going down by 71 points also.
Had it not been for the brilliant performance of Callum Lee in the opening term, helping the Seagulls along to a 19-point lead at quarter time, the damage could have been worse for the Seagulls.
The Cats got on top after quarter time, keeping the Seagulls to four goals for the rest of the match as they piled on 18.
Lee was clearly the Seagulls best player on the ground. Dominating in the ruck and picking up possessions with ease around the ground. He also finished with three goals.
Graham Sellings was again impressive as was Scott Wealands, but the Seagulls had very little to cheer about.
UNDER 18
The under 18s suffered their second consecutive defeat, going down to Lindenow by 20 points after leading for the entire first half.
The Seagulls were dominating the match in the first half, leading by 20 points at half time, before a 40-point turn around ended the Seagulls hopes.
Lakes was held to just two behinds in the final term as the Cast kicked 3.2 to claim the win.
Tom Nickless was named best afield for the Seagulls while Luke Guarnaccia and Matt Dalton were also impressive.
Last Modified on 07/07/2011 10:18