Lakes Entrance will return to action this Saturday refreshed from the league-wide East Gippsland Football Netball League bye, embarking on a massive six-week block that will decide their 2026 finals fate.
The Seagulls are set to host Lindenow at the Lakes Entrance Recreation Reserve in the first of six crucial fixtures. Lakes currently sits in fifth position on the ladder, trailing arch-rivals the fourth-placed Orbost Snowy Rovers, by four points and 34 per cent.
The run home will see the Seagulls face Lindenow (home), Lucknow (away), Paynesville (home), Stratford (away), Orbost Snowy Rovers (home) and Wy Yung (away). Meanwhile, the Blues will tackle Boisdale Briagolong (home), Stratford (away), Lindenow (away), Wy Yung (home), Lakes Entrance (away) and Lucknow (away).
While there are many variables, if both teams defeat the sides below them and fall to the teams above them, the August 8 Lakeside Oval blockbuster between Lakes and Orbost will act as a virtual elimination final.
The Seagulls will be looking to bounce back from a loss to premiership favourites Boisdale Briagolong before the bye. The Bombers blew the Seagulls away in the opening term, but Lakes took plenty of confidence from matching the competition benchmark for the final three quarters — and they remain the only side to defeat the Bombers this season.
Lakes Entrance coach Darren Martin remains bullish about his side’s finals aspirations.
“We have shown this season that we are capable of beating every side in the competition,” Martin said.
“If we get the right personnel and close to our best side on the park over the next month and a half, we could win our last six matches.”
The Seagulls were missing a wealth of talent for the Boisdale trip, with Sam and Logan Brown, Dylan Nikolajew, Tom Hudson, Angus Stevens and Josh Wykes all sidelined. Martin expects to boast a virtually full list to choose from against the Cats.
“We should have strong line-ups in both the seniors and reserves this week,” Martin said.
Lindenow has been dynamite at the stoppages during its climb toward the top of the ladder, with veterans Justin Gould and David Donchi turning back the clock. They will face stiff opposition from the Seagulls’ Mitch Banner, who has enjoyed a superb season and remains firmly in league best-and-fairest contention.
Tactically, it will be interesting to see if the Seagulls opt to play Wykes in tandem with James Beha against Lindenow’s high-profile ruck duo of Jake Richards and Dion Grace, or if Martin continues to use Wykes in a heavy-bodied ruck-roving role. A win against the Cats would drastically enhance the Seagulls’ top-four ambitions.
The minor grades also carry huge double-chance implications. Lakes and Lindenow are locked on equal points in the reserves, with the second-placed Seagulls needing the four points to maintain their advantage. In the thirds, third-placed Lakes Entrance can skyrocket into the top two if they can upset the ladder-leading Cats.
