Border Mail |
JINDERA coach Josh Walker shook off the effects of a hamstring injury to lead the Bulldogs to a stirring come-from-behind 10-point victory over CDHBU at Coreen on Saturday.
The Bulldogs were playing for their finals survival.
They looked to be struggling at the final change when trailing by five points after the Power booted four goals to one in the third quarter.
With their season on the line, Walker made several crucial changes at the final break.
Des Kennedy medallist Brett Garland switched from attack into the ruck, defender Nathan Chamings swung forward and Walker moved himself into the midfield.
It only took minutes for the results to show with Garland and Walker winning some important touches in the midfield.
Chamings also dragged down several strong contested marks and booted a crucial goal to help wrest back the momentum.
Walker was only a last minute inclusion after injuring his hamstring the previous week against Walla.
The regular defender played predominantly deep in attack and booted five goals in a match-winning display.
He was also inspirational in the tense final term with several crucial touches in the midfield.
“It was a gutsy win and I couldn’t be any prouder of the boys,” Walker said.
“We started well but CDHBU fought
back hard in that third term as we knew they would.
“The boys could of easily dropped their heads at that last change because they seemed to have all the momentum.”
The 14.9 (93) to 12.11 (83) victory almost assures the Bulldogs a finals berth with two rounds remaining.
They host the winless Magpies this weekend before facing a must-win match against the Billabong Crows the following week.
“We took a giant stride towards playing finals but we can’t afford to get ahead of ourselves,” he said.
“We host Murray Magpies this week and then face Billabong Crows away which will be just as tough a match as the one on the weekend.
“But the positive is our destiny is in our own hands.”
Fifth-placed CDHBU are now forced to tread the finals the tight-rope and must defeat a dangerous Lockhart before playing Howlong in the final round to decide the final spot up for grabs inside the top-six.
Meanwhile, a severely depleted Holbrook underlined its premiership credentials with an impressive 21-point victory over flag contender Osborne at Holbrook on Saturday.
The Brookers made amends for a narrow defeat against ladder leaders Brock-Burrum last week with a 9.9 (63) to 6.6 (42) victory over the reigning premier in their biggest statement so far this season.
Midfielders Lachie Trethowan, Luke Carmen, Sandy Hamilton and Matt Doswell all impressed for the home side as they inflicted the Cats second defeat in the past 13 matches.
The victory was made all the more impressive considering the Brookers were missing coach Jarrod Twitt, Michael Lamb, Aaron Baker, Jim Grills, Brad Thompson and James and Sam Hodges.
“It was just an honest display and the first time we have beaten anyone inside the top-four,” Twitt said.
“I don’t think Osborne were at its best yesterday but it was good to get the win because its been a few years since we’ve beaten them.
“But we are just play a good, team orientated brand of footy.
“Once again yesterday there were no standouts or stars is was just everyone contributing.”
The Brookers are likely to regain ruckman Aaron Baker, Brad Thompson and James and Sam Hodges for this week’s blockbuster against second-placed Henty.
Defender Stew Williams will miss the clash after a medial ligament injury and faces a race to be fit for finals.
Twitt has ruled himself out until the first week of the finals with a broken finger.
In other games, Rand-Walbundrie stunned Howlong by 23 points.
In a blow to Howlong’s finals aspirations, the Spiders must defeat Walla and CDHBU in the final round to guarantee a finals berth.
Tiger midfielder Justin Gordon was instrumental in the upset win with livewire Daine Runnalls equally as impressive with seven goals.
Billabong Crows notched their fifth victory of the season with a 30-point win over Murray Magpies.
The Crows midfield of Gareth Oughton, Wes Kiley, Dylan Kerr and Will Holman proved to be the major difference.
Brock-Burrum took until the final term to shake off the challenge of a determined Culcairn to eventually win by 43 points.
