LEITCHVILLE/GUNBOWER has continued its winning run, recording a 69-point win against Heathcote on Saturday with a side undergoing a constant makeover due to injury.
Four changes were again made to the Bombers side with only one – Ayden Walton – coming back into the team after recovering from injury.
“It’s a real test of our depth – I’ve never experienced this level of injury in my coaching career,” Bombers coach, Matt Hawken said.
Hawken also pulled the boots back on for the first time in more than a year to supplement the visitors’ depleted bench in the senior game.
“The good news is we got through the game without any significant injuries and with the interleague break we may get a few start to trickle back in,” he said.
“We were tested at times and our guys felt some heat, which isn’t a bad thing. Younger blokes are getting senior game time, which will stand us in good stead for later in the season”
Heathcote tested the Bombers with a solid opening term that began in beautiful autumnal weather that rapidly disintegrated into a grey overcast afternoon.
The Saints threw everything they had at the visitors, putting together several attractive pieces of play that yielded two first quarter goals and saw the side only eight points down at quarter time.
Matt Perri again led the Bombers attack with a brace of first term majors as the Bombers failed to capitalise on their forward 50 entries, with some missed set shots into the breeze.
The weather turned dreary in the second term and the sunny passages of play from the Saints also disappeared as the workmanlike Bombers built a sizable lead with six goals – two of them to Walton, who looked to have recovered well from an ankle injury.
Again it was the core group of the Bombers who pulled the team along. Lee Pollock’s Indian summer in the ruck continued, while Matt Pollock bulldozed away alongside him.
Dan Couwenberg was busy as always and with the quietly relentless Ladson brothers, gave the Bombers great drive from the midfield.
Joel Donehue and Ryan Prendergast proved mobile targets up forward, while Dan Meroli and Hoby Bussey were major obstacles for Heathcote troubling the scoreboard.
Leitchville/Gunbower was 47 points up at the main break and with the arrival of the rain at half-time, the rest of the game became a pretty dreary affair.
Even Perri failed to illuminate proceedings not adding to his half time tally of five – a bare pass based on recent showings.
Heathcote rediscovered some energy and except for some inaccurate kicking could have edged closer – their misses only serving to dull the game further.
In the slippery conditions the sure hands of Jackson McEwen and Logan Prout stood out as the Bombers eventually won the quarter thanks to a late goal from Hugh McGillivray.
The last term was more of the same Walton and Donehue both prominent as the Bombers withstood the now expected physical frustrations from well beaten sides to run out winners.
The majority of the Bombers’ squad now have some recovery time thanks to this weekend’s AFL Victoria Community Championship break and will be looking to regain several players before taking on Huntly at Leitchille on May 20.
