Tara Murray
The senior football premiership was the icing on the cake for Gisborne in a big day in the Bendigo Football Netball League.
With all three senior men’s football teams and three netball teams in grand finals, there was a massive Gisborne presence at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
The Bulldogs would come home with four premierships.
The under-17 netball started the day on a winning note. In pouring rain the Bulldogs beat Kangaroo Flat, 44-34, having led 33-25 at three quarter time.
Goal attack Bella Connors was named best on court.
The Bulldogs made it two from two when they won the under-18 football. In a low scoring affair against Sandhurst due to the weather, the Bulldogs won 5.8 (38)-4.12 (36) win.
The Bulldogs kept Sandhurst to just one point in the final term as the Bulldogs came from 10 points down to win after hitting the front with a minute to go.
Harry Luxmoore and Zach Peterson kicked two goals each for the Bulldogs. Jackson Kerr and Jarrod Ainsworth were named their best.
The Bulldogs B-reserve netballers were up next and they played in a thriller against Sandhurst Scores were locked at 40-all when the siren went, meaning extra time.
Sandhurst would be the better team in extra time, winning 48-46.
The reserves footballers were up next against Golden Square. It slow start would prove costly for the Bulldogs as they trailed 23-0 in pouring rain.
They reduced the margin to eight at the main break, before Golden Square kicked away in the second to win, 7.8 (50)-3.5 (23).
Daniel Davie, Harry Thomas and Clinton Young were the goal scorers for the Bulldogs.
Ethan Bretherton, Thomas and Matt McDonald were named their best.
In the A-reserve grand final, the Bulldogs faced Sandhurst yet again in wet conditions. It was another thriller with the Bulldogs winning 29-27.
The premiership was the Bulldogs third for the day at that stage, with the senior footballers adding a fourth later in the afternoon.
Senior football coach Rob Waters said from a club point of view they were ecstatic with how the season played out.
“All the work that everyone has put in the last seven or eight years has paid off,” he said. “Six sides in grand finals and winning four of them, it’s a great stepping stone for the club.”
Bulldogs senior football co-captain Pat McKenna said the results were not only good for the players, but the club and community as a whole.
