Bairnsdale’s only football victory of the day at Moe last Saturday in round seven of the Gippsland League came in the under 16 match, with the Redlegs consolidating their hold on fourth place on the ladder.
It was the under 16s’ fourth win of the season and it arrived in impressive style. After an even first half, Bairnsdale kicked six unanswered goals in the third term to open up a match-winning 35-point advantage by three quarter time.
The Lions didn’t lie down in the final term, showing the same fight and dedication to detail they displayed in the first half to trade goals with the Redlegs. However, it was Bairnsdale’s day, running out 34-point victors with Hudson Froud leading the way in the forward 50, kicking four goals in a best-on-ground performance.
He was well supported by Luca Desio, Tom Carter, Ryder McGovern, Tayte Gibbs, and Archer Crawley (three goals). Desio is a hard-working youngster who continues to impress with his relentless attack on the ball, regularly proving to be the last player up from the bottom of the packs.
The under 18 clash was billed as the match of the round, with the second-placed Lions welcoming the third-rated Redlegs. The contest lived up to the hype for the most part, with a single dominant quarter ultimately deciding the match.
The home side managed to get off the leash in the second term, kicking four goals to one to establish a 25-point break by half time. The Redlegs battled hard to match the Lions after the main break and made a subtle impression on the scoreboard, but they were unable to get close enough to seriously threaten, eventually going down by 14 points.
Former Lindenow youngster Kane Callaway, who played senior football for the Cats in 2025, kicked four goals for the Redlegs to take the lead in the competition goal-kicking tally with 19 for the season.
The better players for Bairnsdale were Harry McGuinn, Xavier Morrison, Chidi Otuonye, Jack Cullinan, Douglas Ashby and Ned Stansfield. McGuinn dominated upon his return to the under 18 level after playing senior football for both Bairnsdale and Buchan in the early rounds of the year, while Morrison again impressed in just his second game back from a knee reconstruction.
Moe was much too good in the reserves, restricting the Redlegs to a single third-quarter goal on the way to a comprehensive 105-point victory. Lachie Barr, Andrew Pritchett, Hywel Nicholls, Banjo Nugent-Brown, Bryan Froud, and Cooper Young all tried hard for Bairnsdale against a quality opposition line-up.
Bairnsdale will welcome Sale to the Bairnsdale City Oval this Saturday for the annual MND match.
