Gisborne tunes up for finals with solid win over Golden Square
Gisborne tuned up for the Bendigo Football League finals with a solid win over rivals Golden Square and two of the Bulldogs’ biggest names are set to return for a qualifying final date with Eaglehawk.
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Gisborne will be bolstered by two of its biggest names for its BFNL qualifying final against Eaglehawk this weekend.
The Bulldogs warmed up for finals with a solid 17-point win over finals rival Golden Square on Saturday despite missing Pat McKenna and Matt Goodyear.
The pair are certain starters at Queen Elizabeth Oval after pulling up sore at Thursday training before the final home-and-away game.
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McKenna booted 81 goals in 16 matches to finish second in the league goalkicking award behind Strathfieldsaye’s Lachlan Sharp on 129 while Goodyear was a league representative this season.
“Pat McKenna rolled his ankle on Thursday night, not badly but bad enough to miss the game,” Gisborne coach Clinton Young revealed.
“Matt Goodyear was in a similar boat, he was just a little bit sore on Thursday night, so didn’t play either.
“I didn’t play, so there’s maybe a few changes to the team.”
Gisborne and Eaglehawk shared the points this season with the Bulldogs triumphing by 30 points in Round 7 at Canterbury Park before the Borough turned the tables at Gardiner Reserve in Round 16 by 41 points.
Young said it was hard to take much out of the last clash given the conditions.
“We’ve played them twice, we got on top of them up at Eaglehawk but it was in contrast to a couple of weeks ago when it was wet and muddy,” he said.
“Up at QEO (Queen Elizabeth Oval) on Saturday night, I believe, it’s going to be a very different game.”
Brad Bernacki was the Dogs’ best in the win over Golden Square, while Ethan Minns and Tim Walsh also impressed.
In McKenna’s absence, Tom Wood and Sebastian Bell-Bartels booted two goals apiece.
Meanwhile, Kyneton’s season came to an end with a 43-point loss to Sandhurst at Kyneton Showgrounds.
The Tigers finish the season in eighth.
Rhys Magin was best on ground in defeat, while Josh Govan and Leyton Chisholm also impressed. Jonas Parsons, Hamish Govan and Max O’Sullivan all booted two goals.
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