Buninyong 8.16 (64) d Waubra 8.11 (59)
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By Tim O'Connor
With its backs against the wall, Buninyong reignited its Central Highlands Football League season with an important victory on Saturday.
The Bombers had dropped three of the opening five matches, but fought their way back into the top eight with a five-point win over Waubra.
On-field celebrations and a roaring rendition of the club song showed just how much the win meant to the red and black army.
Bombers coach Jarrod Morgan was clearly a relieved man after the final siren and admitted it was a massive result for his side.
“We are a group that is probably used to winning a lot and a lot of the players are not used to being in this position. It’s just natural to be a bit flat and a bit down when you’ve lost a couple on the trot and the ledger is sort of in the negative,” Morgan said.
“It’s just a bit of weight off the shoulders, I think, and a bit of belief back in the group that what we are doing is right...”
Morgan was pleased his team could get the result despite a long list of injury concerns.
“Whatever 22 is out there can do the job if we all stick to the process,” Morgan said.
While Buninyong eventually emerged victorious, it was a game that could have gone either way.
Waubra was the better side in the first half, but only led by three points at the long break. Buninyong came out firing in the third term, and while it could only establish a five-point advantage by the final change, the writing was on the wall for the hosts.
And when Isaac Baker bobbed up to kick two goals early in the last quarter, the Bombers had opened up an 18-point buffer.
Not to be denied, the Roos pressed hard and through goals from Tom Nash and Matt Dawson, they were within a kick with only minutes left on the clock.
But despite their best efforts – including a late set shot on goal that just went wide – the home side was unable to claw back the lead.
There were plenty of reasons why Buninyong won the match, but none more so than the efforts of Liam Rigby and Ned Gilbert. Rigby was colossal in the ruck and around the ground, while Gilbert proved a beast at the stoppages and won plenty of contested ball.
In a game that marked Josh Mann’s 100th appearance in senior football for the Bombers, Morgan also praised the efforts of youngsters Tom Conlan and Jacob Coxall.
Waubra coach Grant Luscombe was disappointed to drop his first game of the campaign.
“They came to play and I thought our intent probably wasn’t as good as theirs,” Luscombe said.
“There was a few fundamental errors that really cost us as well.”
Luscombe said the performance was a good lesson for his youthful, unpredictable outfit, which has slipped to fourth on the ladder.
“Being such a young side... they probably dropped their heads when they didn’t need to, when they were still in the game,” he said.
Luscombe rated the efforts of Nash, who played well through the midfield, and Josh King for his display in attack and the ruck.
Star onballer Lincoln Barnes was highly influential in the first half, but drifted out of the game, while Dawson showed his usual dash off half back and through the centre.
Tim Boyle was marked closely by Jake Dunne all afternoon, and while he managed just two goals, played well and brought teammates into the contest.
Early in the match, a serious finger injury to Jackson Kinna required the forward to head to hospital.
Creswick 13.8 (86) d Daylesford 8.9 (57)
By Tim O'Connor
Creswick coach Ryan Knowles has praised his leaders for helping avoid another potentially frustrating defeat on Saturday.
The Wickers, which have already lost two games by less than a kick and another when in front at the final change, stayed in touch with the Central Highlands Football League top eight thanks to a 29-point success over Daylesford.
Creswick controlled the encounter in the first half and led by close to six goals at the long break, before the visitors hit back to close the margin to 16 points at the final change.
But the hosts booted three majors to one in the last quarter to finish off the 13.8 (86) to 8.9 (57) triumph.
“I just put it on the group – we always knew they were going to come at us and we can’t hold them down all game. It’s just who was willing to step up and stop their run and take control back,” Knowles said.
“And I probably had most of our group who were prepared to do that.”
Knowles said in particular it was some of the team’s leaders that stood up to help his team steady and then kick clear late in the game.
Onballers Paul Hofman, Aaron Sedgwick and Alex Lovel were influential for the winners, while Hepworth boys Aaron, Caleb and Liam all played well.
Clinton Robinson continued his super start to the season with a game-high five goals.
Saturday’s result leaves the Wickers ninth on the ladder, just percentage outside the top eight moving into the game against Bungaree.
Creswick is also percentage clear of the Bulldogs, which battle Carngham-Linton next Saturday.
Daylesford’s performance on the weekend was rated as “easily the worst… by a long way” in coach Marcus Goonan’s time at the helm.
Goonan said the Bulldogs only had a brief 20-minute period in which he felt they were the better side.
“It was just a very weird game, but you have them sometimes,” Goonan said.
Utility Zac Tisdale was perhaps the leading contributor for Daylesford, while Ken Cummings kicked three goals. Cameron Ralph was another that showed some good signs for the beaten brigade.
Learmonth 13.22 (100) d Clunes 8.10 (58)
By Tim O'Connor
Learmonth is third on the ladder after registering a fifth-straight win on the weekend.
The Lakies were challenged by Clunes to half time and led by just four points, but powered away with eight goals to three in the third and fourth terms to run out 42-point winners.
Learmonth coach Steve Biggin admitted his team is yet to produce a boilover in 2017, but remains pleased with where it sits heading into games against stronger opposition in the coming weeks.
Following next weekend’s bye, the Lakies battle reigning premiers Springbank.
“We have probably won the games we were expected to win and probably haven’t caused any upsets yet. At the start of the year we probably would have hoped to be where we are,” Biggin said.
Onballers Scott Whiting and Brenton Powell were influential for the Lakies in Saturday’s win over Clunes, as was ruckman Jye Hutchison. Matthew Bond kicked three goals, with Powell and Richard Zelencich managing two apiece.
For the Magpies, Ryan Hudson-Morgan, Jason Yole and Callum Newton were rated the standouts.
Saturday’s fixture was played for the annual White Ribbon Shield, which was won by Learmonth for its results across all football and netball grades on the day.
Carngham-Linton 10.10 (70) d Newlyn 10.7 (67)
By Tim O'Connor
Carngham-Linton followed up its breakthrough victory in round three with an upset success against Newlyn on Saturday.
The Saints broke a mammoth drought when they beat Clunes and got to sing the song again when it completed the come-from-behind win over the Cats.
Carngham-Linton trailed at every change – by as much as 26 points at half time – but booted three goals to one in the last quarter to snatch the three-point win at home.
Justin O’Brien booted three goals and was named the Saints’ best player, but it was the likes of Wayne Bruty, Jake Pring and Josh Benfield that most impressed coach Matt Beaston.
Beaston said his side is starting to gel, but hoped it could start playing its style of football for longer periods of time.
Joint-coach Daniel Wehrung kicked three goals to be named Newlyn’s best ahead of Luke Prendergast and Dylan Fishwick.
Hepburn 21.14 (140) d Ballan 4.7 (31)
By Tim O'Connor
Hepburn continued its hot run of form, belting Ballan by 109 points on Saturday afternoon.
The Burras had 10 individual goal-kickers and were barely troubled on home soil.
Aron Burns kicked six goals and Andy McKay four, with Daniel Rees, Thomas Godsell and Sean Salmon named the best for the winners.
Hepburn has climbed to fifth position on the back of its third-straight victory, while Ballan sits down the ladder in 15th.
The Blues managed just four majors for the afternoon, with Chris Sharp kicking two.
Jacob Wilkinson, Sam Hitchings and Jake Wilkie were named the best in a disappointing day for the visitors.
Bungaree 15.13 (103) d Skipton 3.5 (23)
By Tim O'Connor
Bungaree made light work of Skipton on Saturday, kicking clear after half time to record an 80-point triumph.
In a game that saw Emus coach Greg Middleton take on his old club, it was the Demons that got the result that was widely expected.
Skipton trailed by only 13 points at half time, but was left standing when the visitors piled on the goals in the third and fourth terms.
Reigning league best and fairest David Benson booted three goals to be named the Demons’ best, while Sam Lehmann returned to the Skipton side on Saturday and was rated its leading player.
After six rounds, Bungaree is sixth on the ladder and Skipton winless in 16th.
Gordon 16.14 (110) d Rokewood-Corindhap 8.11 (59)
By Tim O'Connor
Ash Munari had a rare day out in attack and helped steer Gordon back to winning form on Saturday.
Munari kicked seven goals from roles in the midfield and up forward as the Eagles beat Rokewood-Corindhap by 51 points.
He was a standout for the winners alongside Richmond-listed Tom Langford, who played well on debut for his new club.
Rokewood-Corindhap trailed by 39 points at half time, and despite getting back to within 19 points at the final change, didn’t seriously trouble the visitors.
Sam Cameron, Ben Harris and Aaron Gercovich were the standouts for the home side.
Beaufort 12.8 (80) d Dunnstown 2.5 (17)
By Tim O'Connor
Beaufort remains one of just two unbeaten teams in the competition after the opening six rounds.
The Crows held Dunnstown to just two goals for the afternoon on Saturday on their way to a 63-point triumph on home soil.
Jack Duke booted five goals for the hosts, with Michael Foster named the Crows’ best.
For Dunnstown, Angus Thompson collected the best afield honours.