Gisborne claims crucial win over Sandhurst after knocking off Eaglehawk the previous week
Reigning premier? Win. Preliminary finalist? Win. Gisborne has secured two crucial wins in the past fortnight and the Bulldogs now have their eyes on fellow finals contenders Golden Square.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A fortnight of quality football has cemented Gisborne as a genuine premiership threat in the Bendigo Football League.
The Bulldogs knocked off reigning premier Eaglehawk two weeks ago before running out 26-point winners over last year’s preliminary finalist Sandhurst on Saturday.
Fellow finals contender Golden Square awaits this week to round out a season-defining three-game stretch.
Gisborne coach Clinton Young was pleased with how his team responded after being challenged in the fourth quarter of the 14.20 (104) to 12.6 (78) win.
“Last week we went up to Eaglehawk and played the reigning premiers on their home ground and had a good win,” he said.
“(Saturday) we were able to grind out a win, Sandhurst challenged us late but we fought it out well.
“Looking at the fixture I knew this three-week block would be really challenging for us, but we’ve come through with two great results so far and looking forward to next week.”
Pat McKenna was the star with eight goals, his fifth bag of five goals or more this season.
REPORT: YOUNG PLEASED BY DOGS’ BOUNCE BACK
LEADER: GET YOUR BENDIGO FOOTY NEWS HERE
REPORT: FRUSTRATION SHARPENS TIGERS’ FOCUS
The former GWS and Melbourne-listed forward has 41 goals in eight games but sits second on the league goalscoring count behind Strathfieldsaye’s Lachlan Sharp, who has bagged 60 majors.
“We missed a lot of chances but he kicked the important goals when we needed them,” Young said of McKenna.
“He’s patrolling the forward 50m, he can go high but predominantly he’s our deepest forward.
“He’s a focal point for us but we’ve got Jack Scanlon and Jake Conolan up forward as well.”
Young and Scanlon both kicked two goals, while Ethan Minns was prolific in midfield.
“He (Minns) is a quality player … he missed the first few weeks of the year through injury but he’s back in the midfield and a really important player for us,” Young said.
Kicking with the breeze at Gardiner Reserve the Bulldogs’ wastefulness was rampant as they kicked 3.7 in the opening quarter and were 6.11 at half-time.
It almost came back to bite them as Sandhurst launched a final quarter comeback but Gisborne finally found its range, kicking 5.4 for the term to seal victory.
WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO
— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.
— Unprecedented AFL coverage.
— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.
— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.
— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.
Son of a footy gun joins Sea Lake-Nandaly
The North Central premiers of the past two seasons could be even stronger as they eye a third successive flag.
Ex-WAFL players sign at country club
A country club determined to make amends after missing finals for the first time in more than 20 years has gone on a recruiting spree landing a quartet of ex-WAFL players.