Victories by the reserves and thirds gave Lakes Entrance a clean sweep of the football in round 11 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League.
The reserves consolidated their place in the top four with a hard-fought nine point victory over a determined Paynesville, who registered its highest score of the season.
After an even first term, the Seagulls established a break in second term with three goals to one, and despite the Gulls coming home strongly, Lakes Entrance hung on for a vital win in the context of their season.
Lakes Entrance sits four points ahead of Wy Yung and Lindenow on the table with six rounds to play.
Best players for the Seagulls were James Daly, Charlie Graham (two goals), Andrew Rimmer, Max Stevens, Byron Daley and Oliver Brown.
Coach, Steve Cole, would be delighted that his best performed players were some of the club’s emerging youngsters.
The third ranked Lakes Entrance thirds side recorded its seventh win of the season, comfortably accounting for Paynesville by 78 points.
After an even first term, the Seagulls piled on 14 goals to two in final three quarters to run out impressive winners.
Promising youngster Caleb O’Donnell pushed his case for a senior call up with six goals in a best on ground performance.
Senior coach Ben Rotheram concedes O’Donnell is one of a number of talented thirds players under the tutelage of Jordan Cullen that may get their chance towards the season’s end.
“Caleb is a very promising player, one of a number being educated by Jordan Cullen to play senior football for Lakes Entrance in the coming years,” Rotheram said.
Harper Davis, Charlie Goold, O’Donnell, James Van Oosterom, Graham and Stevens were all named in the best players, with Daly chipping in with three goals, Stevens and Beau Buck-McKimmie slotting two each.
IMAGE: Lakes Entrance thirds player, Kurt Grabham, made his senior debut during the Seagulls hard-working 110-point win over Paynesville at the Lakeside Oval. Grabham’s third team also recorded victory over the Gulls.
