A young and inexperienced Lakes Entrance side was soundly beaten by a smarting Orbost Snowy Rovers in round 10 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League at Lochiel Park in Orbost last Saturday.
Disappointed to be beaten in the dying seconds the previous week by ladder leader, Lucknow, the Blues found themselves two games outside of the top four with plenty of work to do if they are to match last season’s effort of playing finals.
If that wasn’t enough incentive Orbost was also keen to honour club legend Russell Christy who passed away last week.
The Seagulls were competitive in every quarter but the bigger bodied Blues midfielders, led by co-captain Braeden Ross and Mitchell Dignan, were a task too big for the developing Seagulls at this stage.
Liam Carroll and Angus Mckenzie are quality players in their own right but they can’t be expected to run all day against relentless hard running sides, who have quality rotations through the midfield. The Seagulls are developing mid-field depth, but it’s not there just yet.
While trying hard and winning plenty of contested football, the Seagulls lacked polish going forward with a lack of tall targets. The Blues on the other hand regularly used ruckman Wes Russell and key forward targets Curtley and Hamish Nettleton as they powered the ball into scoring territory.
At nine goals to six at half time, Lakes Entrance was still in the game, but five Orbost Snowy goals to two in the third term quickly put an unlikely victory out of the equation.
Both sides had impressive key forwards, Blues co-captain, Hamish Nettleton, continued his recent good form, spending his afternoon closer to goal this week, with eight goals to take his season to 28, where he currently sits equal second on the competition award with Wy Yung’s Jack Betts and Boisdale Briagolong goal sneak Jimmy Reeves.
The trio trail immensely talented Seagull Tom Hudson, who added another five last Saturday to take his season’s total to 34.
His kicking skills continue to amaze spectators, teammates and opponents, a first quarter snap over his shoulder in the left forward pocket adding to his highlight reel.
The Blues rammed home another five goals in the final term to win by 52 points, but the young Seagulls outfit never gave up adding three of their own, Sam East kicking his second for the day, as Lakes give every indication another win is just around the corner, hopefully against Paynesville this week.
Young ruckman Matthew Pearce continues to impress for the Seagulls and wasn’t disgraced against quality opponents in Wes Russell and Jordan Ross. Pearce must be closer to a recall to the Gippsland Power fold.
Hard nut Matt Duggan was again serviceable around the coal face, while Jordan Clarke continues to impress in his first season at club across half back.
Lakes Entrance coach Ben Rotheram will be keen for his players to refocus quickly this week as the club eyes of its second victory of the season, and the possibility of climbing from seventh to sixth on the table.
It would be a small win in the bigger picture, but significant for first year coach Rotheram who is keen to see his team enjoy some success which will add with recruiting going forward and instil some much-needed self belief in a talented young list that is still several years off reaching its potential.
IMAGE: Lakes Entrance’s Brendan Bassett kicks his side out of defence during its round 10 East Gippsland football loss to Orbost Snowy Rovers at Lochiel Park last Saturday. The Seagulls battled hard however lacked polish as they went down by 52 points.
