Premierships expectations for 2024 soared in Gisborne Football Netball Club ranks on Saturday as the club’s number one footy and netball sides rocketed straight into Bendigo League grand finals.
There’s a strong feeling around Gardiner Reserve that the club’s history-making dual football and netball triumphs from 2023 can be repeated.
Bendigo-based clubs must be becoming more apprehensive as the Gisborne juggernaut continues on at the end of the home and away season.
It was not only Gisborne’s senior footballers and A-grade netballers who delighted their supporters at the weekend.
Gisborne sides headed north to the Queen Elizabeth Oval in fine conditions to take on highly ranked opposition, and the margins for the Bulldogs were decisive.
With a one-one record this season against the QEO-based Sandhurst, the Bulldogs were confident after accounting for Strathfieldsaye footballers by 55 points in the qualifying final a week earlier.
Coach Rob Waters knows Gisborne has the talent to make it back-to-back premierships, and the match against Sandhurst was wide open with two goals the difference at half-time.
The third quarter is often decisive in big matches, and it was the Bulldogs who seized control to find holes in the Dragons’ defence.
A 5.5 to 1.3 term virtually wrapped up the outcome in favour of Gisborne.
The final margins was 13.11 (89) to 9.12 (66).
Defenders restricted top goalkicker Fergus Greens to two goals, well below his match average.
Ultra-consistent Flynn Lakey, Zac Vescovi (three goals), Brad Bernacki, Macklin Lord, Frank Schipano and Liam Spear were listed as the Bulldogs’ best.
Dragons’ captain Lachlan Tardrew showed his class, but did not get enough support to really worry the Bulldogs.
In a very low-scoring second semi-final, Gisborne Reserves could not generate the goals necessary when the match was in the balance.
Sandhurst was happy to take the points 5.6 (36) to 3.10 (28).
On Sunday morning, Gisborne Under 18s won their first semi-final against Castlemaine 9.10 (64) to 7.7 (49).
Scores were tied at half-time before the young Bulldogs upped their work rate.
NETBALL ROUND-UP
There were plenty of smiles among Gisborne netballers and supporters at the QEO.
The A-graders finished up with a confidence boosting 51-38 margin over a strong Sandhurst combination.
Gisborne’s A-Reserve side prevailed 43-36 and B-Reserve ended up with a 50-45 advantage margin to earn a grand final berth.
The B-grade side played a tight match before going down 50-46, and now meet Kangaroo Flat in the preliminary final.
