Gisborne youngsters impress as metro lockdown takes toll in BFL
Without a host of senior players it was Gisborne’s youngsters – and a couple of familiar faces – that stepped up in the big win over Maryborough.
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Missing as many as 10 senior players Gisborne strolled to a 95-point victory over Bendigo league rival Maryborough on Saturday.
The Bulldogs’ future looks bright as several under-18s players grabbed the opportunity, including AFL Draft hope Flynn Lakey.
Lakey was best-on-ground in the 25.11 (161) to 10.6 (66) victory at Barkers Oval with his ability to win the contested ball and feed his teammates a highlight.
Youngsters Ben Eales, Matt Merrett, Harry Thomas, Luke Ellings, Max Dean and Jake Normington also impressed, stepping up for players trapped in metropolitan Melbourne’s lockdown.
Gisborne coach Rob Waters was rapt with the outcome given his team’s relative inexperience.
“We were understrength as they were as well. I know it says 95 points but it was closer than you’d think,” he said.
“Here’s a stat for you, Anthony Belcher played centre half-back, take out his 206 games out and the other six defenders have played 36 games between them.
“First week of finals we’ll have nine to 11 out but we’ve played 42 blokes in the seniors this year and we’re fourth on the ladder, so that works for us.
“Flynn is fantastic, he plays inside mid for us and he was very good on the weekend.
“He compliments our midfield, Scooter Walsh is 32, Casey Summerfield is 34, Brad Bernacki is 21-22 and he’s 18 in there dominating.
“He makes players around him better, he’s not the fastest or longest kick, and I love him – the coach’s pet – I’d love to have 10 of him in my team.”
Lakey has played nine NAB League games for the Calder Cannons, averaging 23.3 disposals a game and is ranked third in the competition for handballs (13.7 per game).
In just his 10th senior game for the Bulldogs Eales showed he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
“Big Benny … he’d played one game previously, he’s a local kid coming through but he’s a big man and learning every week,” Waters said.
“He took some really strong marks and he’s going to be a hell of a player at 23-24 when he learns how to use his body.”
Fortunately for Gisborne several key players do live regional, including spearhead Pat McKenna and star midfield Brad Bernacki.
McKenna booted eight goals, while Bernacki added four and Seb Bell-Bartels kicked three.
A five-goal opening quarter sent Gisborne on it’s way, establishing a 24-point lead, and an eight-goal final term was the icing on the cake.
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The win keeps Gisborne in fourth just a game behind ladder-leader Strathfieldsaye.
The Bulldogs face Sandhurst in the final home-and-away match of the season, with the result to have a massive bearing on the finals.
The BFNL has confirmed its preferred finals structure for 2021, adopting a top-six series to be played out over three weeks.
The final structure is yet to be confirmed but likely a knockout model to ensure the top teams are rewarded while also offering increased flexibility in case of further interruption.
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