Tara Murray
Gisborne is on the board after a dominant performance against Maryborough in the Bendigo Football League.
After a close loss to Sandhurst the week before, the Bulldogs had a different challenge ahead of them against the struggling Magpies on Saturday.
The Bulldogs dominated the scoreboard from the first quarter, with 15 shots to lead by 60 points at the first break.
It was much of the same for the next three quarters, with the Bulldogs winning, 42.21 (273)-2.3 (15).
Bulldogs captain Jack Reaper said while the scoreboard shows a good win, those sorts of games are never easy.
“It was an interesting game and I feel sorry for them with where they are,” he said.
“It’s about focusing on us and making sure our structures and habits are in place no matter which team we are playing.
“It’s easy to go away from what you need to do against the good sides against some of the lower sides. Things like doing the team things.”
Reaper said they were able to do that for the first three quarters before they dropped off a bit in the last quarter.
He said he and coach Rob Waters were a bit grumpy in the last quarter with how they were playing, but in hindsight knows it’s hard to stick to that for 120 minutes when the margin is more than 200 points.
Pat McKenna kicked eight goals for the Bulldogs.
The return of McKenna is a welcome one after he played just two games last season.
“Having him back out there with his leadership is amazing and he sets up the forward line,” Reaper said.
“He has a different role this year a little bit further up the ground, but he does straighten us up.”
Harry Luxmoore kicked seven goals after some inaccurate kicking the week before, while Sam Graham kicked five.
Reaper said it was good to see some of the younger boys step up and they start looking towards the future.
Midfielders Brad Bernacki and Flynn Lakey were named their best.
Reaper said they will take a lot out of the first couple of rounds, having lost to last season’s runners-up in Sandhurst the week before.
“We had chances to win,” he said. “In defensive we let in a couple of goals that escaped us, but we still had the same number of scoring shots.
“We didn’t play amazing but it was a 15 point loss and we could have won. We take learning out of it and they are considered the best team in the competition and it was our first game of the year.”
Reaper said the playing group was really enjoying having Waters back in the coaching back, with him bringing a real familiarity to the group.
He said Waters, who coached the 2022 premiership, really understands what the group needs, while having Dallas Normington as a full time midfield coach also helps.
The Bulldogs this Saturday face South Bendigo in what Reaper said would be a good challenge.
“They lost to Kangaroo Flat which was a bit of a surprise,” he said. “They will have a point to prove.
“They beat us last year by 10 goals and we would like to redeem ourselves.”
The Bulldogs A-grade netballers had a bye with Maryborough not having an A-grade side.
