Gisborne endure a horror day in front of goal in loss to Eaglehawk
Gisborne got an early taste of finals but its will need to improve considerably if its to make an impact come September after a horror day in front of the big sticks in the loss to Eaglehawk.
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It’s not often a team has one less scoring shot and suffers a 41-point loss, rarer for a premiership hopeful.
A horror day in front of goals ensured Gisborne endured just that as Eaglehawk claimed the Bendigo Football League second v third blockbuster on Saturday.
The Bulldogs got an early taste of finals at a muddy Gardiner Reserve and will need to improve dramatically when the real stuff starts.
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The Dogs dropped to third with two games remaining in the regular season after the 13.7 (85) to 5.14 (44) loss and faces a must-win clash against Sandhurst this weekend.
Gisborne coach Clinton Young didn’t believe it was a wake-up call, saying the team’s issues were there for all to see.
“Overall, they taught us a bit of a lesson in efficiency,” Young said.
“It was a game that was quite muddy and scrappy and we just weren’t converting, not just on the scoreboard. Around the ground they used the ball better than us.
“We walk away knowing how we can get better. We have to regroup before a big game against Sandhurst.
“It’s not necessarily a walk-up call, we know the areas we need to work on.”
The Bulldogs were within touching distance at half-time, trailing by 14 points, but shot themselves in the foot in the third quarter.
Kicking with the wind, Gisborne added a miserable 1.7, compared to Eaglehawk’s 4.3, which saw the margin blow out to 28 points at the final change.
The visitors added 3.2 to 1.1 in the final quarter to finish the job.
Pat McKenna continued his strong goalkicking form, adding three majors, while Tim Walsh, Josh Grabham and Liam Rogers were the Dogs’ best.
Elsewhere, Kyneton secured its fifth victory of the season, proving too good for Maryborough by 28 points at Kyneton Showgrounds.
The Tigers led by a single point at three-quarter-time but piled on five goals to none in a devastating final-quarter burst.
Max O’Sullivan and Rhys Magin were best the Tigers’ best, while Luke Beattie, Hamish Govan, Leyton Chisholm and Shaun Huy all managed two majors.
Kyneton will travel to Eaglehawk in the penultimate round.
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