Gisborne condemns reigning BFL premier Strathfieldsaye to 0-2 start

It’s only Round 1 but Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye might have played the best game of the Bendigo Football League season, a one-point thriller at Gardiner Reserve.

Tim Walsh in action for Gisborne. Picture Aaron Cook

Gisborne celebrated one of the most thrilling wins in club history on Saturday, a one-point classic against reigning Bendigo Football League premier Strathfieldsaye.

Bulldogs coach Rob Waters admitted his team was lucky after the Storm wasted a handful of chances to win the game at Gardiner Reserve but was rapt to have started the season with four points.

Holding a three-point lead, Waters could only watch on as Strathfieldsaye missed two shots on the goal in the dying moments to fall to 0-2 for the first time since 2010.

“It’s hard when you’re in the middle of it but people told me after the game it was two good teams having a red-hot crack all day,” he said.

“At the end of the day we were lucky, they had chances late to win it but missed.

@localfooty Bendigo Football League thriller. Gisborne Bulldogs rally in the final quarter to down the Strathfieldsaye Storm by a point. pic.twitter.com/6Z3AQX4Fw8

— Aaron Cook (@aaroncook666) April 10, 2021

Nick Doolan in action for Gisborne against Strathfieldsaye. Picture: Aaron Cook

“We were two goals down late in the final quarter but I told the boys all day just stay in the contest for as long as you can and the hard work was rewarded.”

The 13.13 (91) to 12.18 (90) win was even more impressive given captain Pat McKenna was missing due to AFLW commitments with Melbourne.

McKenna will return for the Bulldogs’ Round 2 clash against Golden Square.

Jake O’Brien was named best-on-ground on debut after crossing from Castlemaine.

The midfielder kicked three goals in an action-packed display that included the highlight of the match, a miraculous goal from the boundary line.

Jack Scanlon also booted three goals, while Scott Walsh, Zac Vescovi and Ben Eales also impressed.

“It’s a super reward for our young players that have done two pre-seasons and affectively stepped straight into senior football from their bottom-age year of under-18s,” Waters said.

“We had faith in them and to perform like they did against the best team in the comp was really impressive.”

In miserable conditions a strong crowd turned out to watch the first game at Gardiner Reserve since August 24, 2019.

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Waters said the return to football had been a learning curve not just for the players but for the coaches and entire club.

Gisborne has bolstered its list with O’Brien and Ethan Foreman from RDFL club Riddell but lost Jaidyn Owen to Ballarat outfit Bacchus Marsh.

It faces a stiff second test against the Bulldogs coming off a 109-point hammering of Kyneton.

After playing Good Friday, Strathfieldsaye has a bye and will look to get on the winners’ list against Maryborough.