GISBORNE and Sandhurst turned in the electrifying performances in the BFL’s 17th round back in 2007.The Graveyard Dogs trailed Golden Square by 28 points into the third quarter’s time-on period in their clash at Country Vet Oval.
At that point in the big game Gisborne had been held to just eight goals, while Square had 13 majors on the board.
Luke Saunders and Anthony Belcher nailed the last two goals of the quarter with Belcher’s posted a mere five seconds before the three-quarter time siren.
That cut the deficit to 16 points. Gisborne lifted its game in the final term, adding 6.7 while holding the home side Bulldogs to a solitary point.
At Dower Park Sandhurst unleashed an eight-goal third quarter to sink the Roos. Coach Nathan Gilliland collected 40 possessions for the match, Simon Weekly hauled in 10 marks while his brother Russell slotted five goals.
In other Round 17 results Kyneton farewelled coach Neville Massina from the Showgrounds with a 14-point victory over North City, Eaglehawk belted Maryborough by 14 goals while South accounted for Castlemaine by 44 points.
BUT the focus 24 months ago centred on the Battle of the Bulldogs.
Coach Jeff Brennan was a late withdrawal from the Square lineup with emergencies Matt Klein-Breteler and James Walsh called up.
And right from the opening seconds it was clear Square had come to play. Square forward Stacy Fiske laid an aggressive tackle on Gisborne coach Marcus Barham, a tackle which set the scene for the match.
For three quarters the Square Bulldogs played the no-nonsense brand of football it needed to in order to protect its precious top three spot on the ladder.
Yet the Gisborne Dogs soaked up the pressure and then lifted their intensity in the last quarter.
Observers at Country Vet Oval left the game convinced playing on the rock-hard surface of the ground two weeks in a row had sapped the run and energy of the Square team.
From time-on in the third term Square looked proppy. Yet earlier on Golden Square had led by 16 points, holding Gisborne to a mere four behinds in the opening quarter.
By half-time Gisborne had closed to gap to five points --- 7.6 (48) to 8.5 (53) – before Golden Square took a lead of 16 points into the last change.
Then came the Gisborne charge which sank Square and pushed the Dogs down to fourth spot on the senior ladder.
For Gisborne midfielders Shane Davis, Casey Summerfield and Matt Fitzgerald were inspirational with Belcher (four goals) and Darren Farrugia (three) dangerous in attack.
Summerfield blanketed Jason Griffin, Shaun Comerford held Darren Walsh, while Davis ran amok in the second term.
Defenders Lachlan O’Toole and Jason Curtain, Tim Malone who had a run-with role on Fitzgerald, captain Christian Carter (four goals) and Fiske were Square’s best.
Defender Anthony Holdstock played his 100th senior game. He mightn’t have remembered much of the concluding stages as he was knocked out in the last quarter.
AT DOWER Park cellar dweller Kangaroo Flat unleashed a seven-goal second term to trail by 17 points at the long break.
The Dragons had skipped out to a 31-point lead in the early going with marking forwards Simon Weekly and Sam McGee in sparkling form.
Then the John Rombotis-coach Roos charged. Ty Zantuck booted two goals and assistant coach Marty Warry three as the home side closed the margin to eight points moments before half-time.
Pacy Kieran Nihill booted the goal-of-the-day with a running checkside shot off the side of the right boot to restore Hurst’s ascendancy.
Sandhurst ensured victory and third spot on the ladder with an eight-goal third quarter.
Gilliland nailed two majors himself and had a hand in many others with his run and carry from the centre square. Mark Fitzgerald chipped in with two goals as well, as the Dragons took the lead out to 68 points by the last change.
Apart from Russell Weekly’s five-goal haul, Fitzgerald and McGee finished with three while for the Roos Zantuck nailed five majors and Warry four.
IN THE other games fifth-placed South Bendigo withstood a spirited challenge from Castlemaine at the QEO.
The Magpies closed to four points at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter before the Bloods steadied and kicked a string of six, unanswered goals to ensure victory.
For the Bloods James Burke and Dayne Frew kicked three goals while in a batch of four players who contributed two was Cameron Hall --- now an on-baller with Strathfieldsaye.
Shaun Burchell nailed three for the Maine with Luke Walters, Matt Peake and Burchell among the Maine’s best.
Second-placed Eaglehawk was without coach Derrick Filo, Marty O’Reilly and Brad Rogerson for the Canterbury Park clash against Maryborough, but still had a massive 84-point win.
Forwards Matt Gretgrix (6), Brady Herdman (5) and Damian Brown (3) contributed 14 of the Borough’s 21 majors. Marc Cassidy was Maryborough’s only multiple goalkicker with two.
Kyneton bounced out of the blocks with a nine-goal to one first term against North City. Then the Northies added 11 goals to six in the run home --- including 5.2 to 0.4 in the last term --- to fall short by just 14 points.
Cameron Tate with five and Wayne Eve on four topped the Tigers’ goalkicking tally. Best for the Northies was Dyson George with three sausage rolls.
North City won five games in 2007, their last season in the BFL.
Richard’s tips for Round 17: Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat, South Bendigo, Sandhurst, Golden Square.
Progress tally for 2009: 65.
By Richard Jones
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