LEITCHVILLE/GUNBOWER has advanced to a second consecutive Heathcote District Football Netball League grand final following a 61-point victory over Huntly in Saturday’s second semi-final.
Rocked by early injuries to key players and limited in rotations, the minor premiers maintained intense tackle pressure on their opponents and broke the game open in the third term at Lockington, led by seven goals from forward Matt Perri.
From the outset the Bombers looked the livelier of the two sides and with Jackson McEwen and Jye Keath limiting the output of Huntly stars Harry Whittle and Ryan Semmel, the Hawks appeared to have few other offensive options.
Tim Lincoln was matched against Huntly’s Matt Klien Brettler and even though the Hawks player was good in the first term, he had no answer to the relentless running of his Bombers opponent.
Lincoln and Perri kicked two apiece in the first term, the latter too elusive for minder Josh Harris, as the Bombers finished the term with a 10-point lead despite kicking to the end not favoured by the strong breeze.
With key players Ryan Prendergast, Daniel Couwenberg and Daniel Coates all suffering game ending injuries, coach Matt Hawken’s quarter time address was possibly the most important of the season.
“Stay positive; we’ve been in this position before. Keep doing what we’re doing,” was Hawken’s message, referring to the Bombers’ round six win over the Hawks when they also suffered early injuries.
Kicking to the scoring end in the second term the Bombers took control of the match – Jason Dal Santo’s move from ruck to defence to cover the loss of Prendergast was a winner as not only did he bring an uncompromising attitude, it allowed fellow big men Cam Ross and Leigh Pollock more time on the ball.
Ross, in only his second game back from injury, improved markedly as the game wore on, with his strength more than matching the Huntly big men at stoppages.
Pollock’s mobility was key in spoiling many of Huntly’s attacks and both gave the flint hard Bomber onballers Tom German and Bart Walsh plenty of assistance as they cleared the ball from the many stoppages.
Perri, Riley Keath and Adam Decicco all kicked majors in the second term as the Bombers extended their lead at half-time to four goals, with Steve Pretty and mobile youngster Will Brereton restricting the Hawks to a solitary goal.
Riley Keath got the Bombers away to a good start after the long break but it was then that Huntly enjoyed their best period of play for the day.
The Hawks looked to have the edge in intensity and with a couple of quick goals had by half way through the quarter reduced the margin to 19 points.
Jacob Greenwood marked cleverly 20 metres out from goal and a true kick would have the Hawks within 13 points and with the breeze at their backs, it appeared the momentum was well and truly in their favour.
As it turned out this was the defining moment of the game – Greenwood missed by some margin and the Bombers rekindled their first-half pressure.
Sam Kennedy and Will Brereton roamed far and wide, Kennedy presenting and Brereton intercepting – the old firm of Pretty and Treacy swept and repelled in defence and with McEwen and Keath maintaining their dominance the Hawks wilted.
Goals to German and Perri (two) propelled the Bombers to a three-quarter time lead of 37 points and although short of rotations, the week’s break courtesy of finishing top appeared to have worked in the club’s favour.
Riley Keath struck again early in the last term and with Perri seemingly scoring at will against the hapless Harris, the Bombers had blown out the lead to 55 points.
Perri hadn’t finished though, setting up the hard working Kennedy for the Bombers’ last goal of the day, with the Hawks only goal coming in the final minutes through Stacy Fiske.
Hawken was obviously proud of his side’s efforts in overcoming the early disadvantage and he was hopeful the injured trio would be able to get up for the grand final in two weeks’ time.
“We’ll assess tomorrow and see how they come up but if they don’t we certainly have options with the likes of Benny Meroli, Jack Dye and Jimmy Brereton available,” he said.
The Bombers now have the week off and take on the winner of North Bendigo and Huntly, who meet in the preliminary final on Saturday.
