Lakes Entrance suffered arguably its most disappointing loss for the season, going down to Lindenow by 31 points during round 14 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League last Saturday at the
Lakeside Oval.
The victory has seen the Cats go above the Seagulls on the ladder by a narrow percentage, the Seagulls now seventh with three wins for the season.
Although it has suffered larger defeats this campaign, the second loss to Lindenow hurts as it’s a club embarking on a similar journey to the Seagulls, rebuilding its list, looking to continue to improve and build towards a push for finals in 2026.
Both have impressed in recent weeks with efforts against top four sides that are better equipped at this stage, but when you take the field opposed to a side in a similar situation winning needs to be the result and it was the Cats who had all the answers.
Again it was poor start from the Seagulls that left them reverted to the role of the hunter for the final three quarters as the pumped up Cats came out firing kicking four goals to one in the first term.
Gun youngster Peter Harrison (five goals) and hard-running coach Brett Waddell (four) proved thorns in the side of the Seagulls’ from the initial bounce as Lindenow made every post a winner.
A couple of Waddell’s goals from outside 50 were outstanding.
Angus McKenzie, who was to have the job on Harrison, was a late withdrawal on Friday night adding to the long list of injured Seagulls.
Some subtle adjustments and a reiterating of expectations saw Lakes Entrance more focused in the second term, kicking four goals to three to narrow the margin to 14 points at the long break, with Sam Brown (four) impressing with his ability to convert.
Again it was the Cats who got the jump
in the the third term, establishing that five-goal advantage.
A rev up from coach Darren Martin at three quarter time saw his side come out
firing in the final term kicking the first two goals to give them a sniff, but three quick goals to Cats saw them home comfortably in the end.
Lindenow victorious in a result that was important for them and with Paynesville this week they will fancy themselves in coming weeks against Stratford as they look for that breakthrough win over a finals contender.
The Seagulls are left to ponder another performance that didn’t encompass the full four quarters.
Among the best for the Seagulls were Brown, Ben Richardson, Oscar Brazzale, Angus Stevens, Caleb O’Donnell and Tully Davis, as the next breed of senior players start to establish themselves.
The phenomenal efforts of Harrison and Waddell were complemented by Joshua Onley, Lucas Lakay, Todd Alexander and Patrick Alexander.
Lakes Entrance will play Orbost Snowy Rovers at Lochiel Park this Saturday, a side it defeated earlier in the season at home.
Regardless of ladder positions the contests between the arch rivals are always spirited and hotly contested and the Seagulls would love nothing better to bounce back with a performance that claims the four
points and puts a huge dent in the Blues’ finals aspirations.
That’s sure to be Seagulls coach Darren Martin’s message as his side looks to finish a season that has looked promising with a couple of much-needed wins.
