Bairnsdale welcomed Moe for round one of the Gippsland League, the home side getting off to a great start with a thrilling fourths victory, but it was tough going after that.
Bairnsdale City Oval presented in magnificent order for the season opener, with a healthy crowd in attendance to check out the action, after being starved of local action of Australia’s favourite game for over six months.
The Redlegs came from behind to give new fourths coach Bryan Froud a dream debut after looking to be up against it early against a slick Lions outfit.
Trailing by three goals at half time and 10 points at the final change, the Redlegs responded to Froud’s inspirational three quarter time address kicking five goals to two in an action-packed final term to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.
Oscar Baylis was in great touch up forward booting three goals, joined in the best by the hard-running Luca Desio, Tom Carter, Hudson Froud, Ayden Martin and the determined Archer Crawley.
Moe dominated the thirds match winning by 42 points, the Redlegs restricted to a goal in each half of the match.
Both sides were costly in front of goal with a tricky breeze prevalent, players from both sides struggling to make the necessary adjustments.
Bairnsdale was well served by Kael Frith, Tarkyn Scott, Jobe Froud, Jacob Farley, Douglas Ashby and Xavier Lane.
Farley, in his first game since crossing from Orbost, looks an exciting player with his explosive pace, combining well with Froud who has similar attributes.
Moe’s wayward kicking kept Bairnsdale in the reserves match early, but eventually the Lions found their radar converting a 27-point half time lead into an impressive 70-point victory.
One of the advantages of adding quality players to your senior set up is that it creates depth and that looks to be the case for the Lions, who looked to have an embarrassment of riches running around in their reserves team.
Former Churchill forward Brendan Holt impressed kicking four goals, while for the Redlegs the better players were Charlie Mein, Harrison Cook, Ridge Peters, Tom Selleck, Boris Bryant and Hywel Nicholls.
It’s expected several of those will drift back to their East Gippsland Football Netball League clubs this week, while Nicholls, a Welshman, made an impressive debut in his first official game of AFL.
