LEITCHVILLE/GUNBOWER is back on top of the Heathcote District Football Netball League ladder following a 113-point win against Mount Pleasant on Saturday.
Led by a 10-goal haul from enigmatic forward Matt Perri, the win at Gunbower sets up a potential minor premiership-defining encounter this weekend with second-placed Huntly.
Perri was at his electric best in the opening term, bagging four goals as the hosts piled on a total of seven goals and restricting the Blues to solitary behind.
Leitchville/Gunbower coach, Matt Hawken was pleased by his charges’ early burst, but as he had highlighted pre-game, the Bombers had really only played only three good quarters during the previous three weeks.
If any player epitomises the Bombers’ ability to drift in and out of games it’s Perri and Saturday’s second term saw the forward inexplicably fail to add to his goal tally after appearing to be a class above the opposition defenders in the first term.
Fortunately the Bombers have the happy knack thus far that where one player fades others step up. Daniel Coates (two goals) Sam Kennedy (two goals) and Ayden Walton (five goals) – in his first game after suspension – took over as the targets in the forward line as Leitchville/Gunbower extended its lead to 63 points at the main break.
Steve Pretty is one Bomber who rarely produces a quiet quarter let alone a whole game and in the absence of injured co-captains Daniel Couwenberg and Hoby Bussey, the durable and consistent defender was named as acting captain in his 50th game for the hosts.
Pretty, along with Jye Keath and Ryan Prendergast, shored up the Bomber defence as the Blues improved as the game went on – another side who have found that short and numerous possessions can significantly disrupt the Bombers’ scoring pattern.
First gamer Luke Sevoir and fellow teenager, Brady Hore showed plenty to suggest that they are set for many senior appearances while “veterans” Jackson McEwen and Adam Decicco accumulated numerous possessions over most parts of the ground.
Perri recommenced his contribution to the scoreboard with two goals in the third term before producing a final term as good as his first, with four more goals that took his season tally to an 52 goals.
Not to be outdone, Pretty – rewarded for his diligent service in defence with a move to the forward line – produced an absolute speccy as well as two goals, further underlining the versatility of the Bombers and the resources coach Hawken has at his disposal.
Despite the strong showing there could be changes to the Bombers for this Saturday’s game against Huntly, with coach Hawken looking to bring in some bigger bodied players for the vital clash.
“Both Dan and Brendan Meroli should be available and Chook Couwenberg has recovered from injury so they’ll probably come in while Cam Ross, Hoby Bussy and Jarrad Nuttal are all doubtful,” he said.
