LEITCHVILLE/GUNBOWER’S first home game of the year has seen their disappointing start to the 2016 Heathcote District Football Netball League season continue with a 41-point loss to Colbinabbin.
Redemption for an opening round loss to North Bendigo appeared on the cards as the Bombers opened brightly with some crisp ball movement that resulted in a goal to Matt Perri within three minutes.
Ayden Walton, in his first senior game for the club in nearly three years, followed with a goal soon after and it looked like Matt Hawken’s side had rediscovered some of their 2015 form.
The Grasshoppers, through coach Nick Knight and midfield dynamo Pat O’Brien, wrested control back from the home side with accurate passing and creative handball that set up Linton Jacobs for a goal.
Knight was everywhere and aided by some lapses in checking from the Bombers, added a goal of his own that evened up the score.
Jack Dye got on the end of a good chain of handpasses to kick a goal that would give the Bombers a five-point quarter time lead.
Despite leading at the first change, Hawken was largely unimpressed with his sides efforts highlighting the lack of accountability that had led to Colbinabbin’s goals. Poor disposal and choice of options also featured in the quarter time address, the earnestness of which surprised many onlookers.
Hawken obviously wasn’t convinced that his Bombers were totally switched on and as it turned out he was right.
Knight ran riot in the second term, kicking the first two goals and leading his would be taggers a merry dance.
Again the home side looked good in patches with Perri benefitting from some solid work from Drew Bartram and Tom German, but as with most of the Bombers, these were mere cameos.
More defensive sloppiness saw Colbinabbin add two further goals as the beleaguered Bomber defence appeared to have only Jackson McEwen composed enough to be trusted with the football.
McEwen was a standout in both repelling and instigating attacks, yet the Bombers were incapable of capitalising once the ball reached the half forward line.
A Daniel Coates volley from long range brought the Bombers to within seven points at the main break – a scoreline that was entirely flattering given the staid and unimaginative nature of the Bombers play.
The third term was possibly one of the dullest produced by the Bombers in the last few seasons, with the home sides first scoring attempt coming at the 16-minute mark and only saw the ball go out of bounds on the full in the forward pocket.
Bomber fans had to wait a further three minutes for the excitement of a behind being scored – a rushed one at that.
Incredibly the Bombers were only 19 points down at three-quarter time thanks to a Perri goal after the siren and Colbinabbin’s stubborn refusal to put the Bombers out of the contest with some remarkable inaccuracy in front of goal.
Perri looked to spark the Bombers again with a goal within one minute of starting the last term – the first time the Bombers had score consecutive goals for the day.
Colbinabbin’s benevolence in letting the Bombers get with 13 points soon evaporated as the Grasshoppers slammed on five unanswered goals.
A couple of late goals flattered the Bombers on the scoreboard, diluting what was in effect a total capitulation – something that obviously doesn’t sit well with Hawken.
“That last quarter… we showed very little fight… we were lucky to be in it at three quarter time and could’ve pinched it but you have to want it enough,” he said.
Hawken foreshadowed changes for Saturday’s game against a struggling Lockington Bamawm United, suggesting that he’ll look to players with pace to come in to the side.
