LEITCHVILLE/GUNBOWER’S 2017 Heathcote District Football Netball League campaign started brightly on Saturday, with the Bombers recording a 48-point win against lasts year’s second round nemesis, Colbinabbin.
Leading from start to finish, the new-look Bombers were at times challenged by the very physical Grasshopper side, yet maintained composure in the sweltering conditions at Leitchville Oval.
Continuing their solid pre-season, the Bombers started well with veteran Steve Pretty kicking the first goal of the day in his now annual early season experiment in the forward line.
Kicking into a strong breeze, the Bombers adhered rigidly to a game plan of precise short passes to work the ball forward.
Although there was nothing new in that game plan, it was obvious early that with the addition of players such as Matt and Brad Ladson and Matt Pollock to the side, the skill level need to execute a short passing game has noticeably improved.
Alongside Pretty, Matt Perri was in sparking touch, assisting in the first goal and kicking the second for the term, as well as the third with a trademark snap.
Colbinabbin failed to take full advantage of the first term breeze with poor disposal and, of course, no Grant Weeks up forward to kick long to.
The visitors hung in though, with goals to Nick Knight and Damien Carmody and a late snap from Sam Vale that got them to within a point of the hosts at quarter time.
Unlike the Grasshoppers, the Bombers used the breeze well with a match-defining five goal to one second term.
Perri again got the scoring underway and was soon joined by Tim Lincoln, who bagged two goals in even time.
The Bombers are a quicker side than last year with the recruitment of Mitch Bruns on a half-back flank and the inclusion of youngsters Blake Dye, Logan Prout and Mitch McEwen – all of whom began to use their pace to find plenty of the ball in the second term.
Not only quicker, the Bombers have also a decidedly harder edge around stoppages with the return of Pollock and Joel Donehue, and this – combined with the accurate taps of Michael Pilcher in the ruck – created many clearances for the Bombers .
Goals to the midfield pair gave the Bombers a five-goal lead at the main break and looking too classy for a Colbinabbin side that, apart from Patrick O’Brien and Knight, didn’t appear creative enough to generate regular scoring.
Ryan Prendergast had an entertaining battle with Carmody across the visitors, half-back line, and his run off half back was rewarded with the first goal of the third term.
The Grasshoppers upped their intensity and if not for the efforts of Daniel Meroli and Jackson McEwen repelling many attacks with excellent reading of the play, the visitors may have seriously threatened.
As it was, they outscored the Bombers for the term with goals to Knight and O’Brien reducing the three-quarter time deficit to only four goals.
Bombers coach, Matt Hawken was livid with his side for letting Colbinabbin back into the game at the break and let his players know it.
Perri responded quickly when play resumed with two goals to take his tally to five and it looked as if Hawken’s strong words had done the trick.
Colbinabbin returned fire with goals to William Lowe and O’Brien before the Bombers settled and closed the game out.
Young legs with more pace gave the Bombers the edge at the end of a hot afternoon and goals to Matt Ladson, Mitch McEwen, Ashtyn Dye and Prout not only put the game beyond doubt, but also underlined the overhaul the Bombers line up has undergone.
The Bombers have a rare Easter off before travelling to Toolleen to take on Mount Pleasant on April 22.
