Lakes Entrance scored its third and most satisfying win for the East Gippsland football season, overrunning a gallant and courageous
Lindenow by 41 points during round 13 at the Lakeside Oval last Saturday.
The game was up for grabs at three quarter time, the straight-kicking Seagulls holding onto a seven-point lead after resisting a Cats onslaught with the wind that resulted in a Lindenow goal being the only score for the term.
Lakes Entrance had the positive of the wind in the final term, but goals had been hard to come by and with the Cats dominant around the clearances, something special from the Seagulls was going to be needed to get them across the line.
And that’s what they got.
First-year Lakes Entrance coach Ben Rotheram encouraged his troops to be brave and the rewards would come.
He reiterated the point the first three quarters where irrelevant, that victory would be defined by what happened in the next 25 minutes.
Rotheram threw caution to the wind, moving the competition’s leading goal kicker, Tom Hudson to centre half back after he had been held to a solitary kick by former Bairnsdale teammate, Lucas Lakey.
Hudson would play a vital role across half back, propelling numerous Cats attacks, his long accurate kicking clearing the ball.
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At the other end it was a similar scenario with Sebastian Etheridge playing the game of his life, keeping one of the league’s up and coming stars, Peter Harrison, goalless.
Harrison, having to roam a long way from goal to accumulate possessions, had a dirty day seeing him sent off and reported in the second term after striking Oscar Brazzale.
History will say the Seagulls got on a roll in that vital final stanza, creating 10 shots on goal after only having five up until three quarter time. Their final term tally of five goals doubled the output for the first three quarters.
The final term was set alight after a courageous mark by Noah Bottom at the top of the goalsquare, the smart forward slotting his second major for the day, inspiring his teammates to another level as they upped the tempo, playing with flare and plenty of creativity.
Youngster Cameron Ferris goaled shortly after, teammates coming from all over the ground to celebrate his first goal in senior football in his 11th game.
The smooth moving Brazzale rammed home his second, followed by one from Jordy Cullen, before Rotheram put the icing on the cake with a signature snap.
Rotheram was delighted with the victory, encouraging his team to enjoy the wins and enjoy their footy, because it can be a chore when you’re losing.
He praised his team’s resilience for weathering the storm, giving themselves a chance and getting the job done in average conditions.
“We have been in matches against the better sides, but we got the job done today, when the match was there for the taking,” Rotheram said.
In the first half, despite trailing by 13 points at half time, the Cats had enjoyed the majority of the play with David Donchi, Justin Gould and coach Brett Waddell getting plenty of the football and racking up the clearances as both sides’ half back lines played pivotal roles in propelling the attacks.
Rotheram singled out the efforts of the unheralded Etheridge, young ruckmen Matt Pearce and Brazzale, who battled hard against huge Cat Alexander Stanton.
Seagulls co-captains Liam Carroll and Angus McKenzie again worked tirelessly against quality opposition through the midfield, their run and carry always damaging, McKenzie important early with two goals.
Tim Sinclair and Ben Richardson were both good across half back, working hard to keep the ball in front of them, repelling the ball continually.
Todd Alexander played a similar role for Lindenow, evening sneaking down to kick a goal.
Other good players for the Cats were Lakay, Donchi, Lewis Roberts, Gould and young Ben Rutherford.
