Things didn’t go Lakes Entrance’s way in week one of the 2026 East Gippsland Junior Football Association finals series at Bairnsdale City Oval last Sunday.
The under 15s again found the unbeaten Wy Yung a task too big in the qualifying final and will now have to use their double chance.
Meanwhile, the under 13 side was eliminated by a more accurate Bairnsdale outfit in a high-class encounter, bringing a disappointing end to their season.
The Seagulls were forced into playing catch-up in the under 15s after the Tigers kicked four unanswered majors in a brutal first 20 minutes.
The final three quarters were relatively even, but Lakes Entrance was unable to eat into the margin, going down bravely by 37 points.
Lochie Yates kicked three goals for the Seagulls and Yvan Cabrera two, with the better players being Jeremy Rotheram, Yates, Patrick McGinty, Cohen Kleinitz, Harry Strong and Reide Ymer.
Lakes Entrance will play Lindenow in the preliminary final at Bairnsdale City Oval this Sunday at 2pm.
The under 13 contest began in similar vein, with the Redlegs kicking the only three goals of the first term to lead by 20 points, with Lakes Entrance unable to make any headway in the middle two stanzas.
Trailing by 17 points at the final change with their season on the line, the Seagulls responded strongly in an exciting final term.
They outscored Bairnsdale by three goals to two, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the home side, which prevailed by 10 points in a tense final 15 minutes.
Callum Yates was the only multiple goalkicker for the Seagulls with two, while Kobi Caldwell, Jake Christison, Sunny Eiseman, John Sowden, Ivy O’Donnell and Jude Campisi were named among the best players.
