Gisborne is one of the really strong contenders for the 2025 senior football premiership in the Bendigo League.
Runner-up in a thrilling 2024 grand final by four points against Sandhurst still haunts some Bulldogs’ fans, but thrashing Kangaroo Flat in the season’s opening round on Saturday restored a ton of confidence.
Resolute senior coach Rob Waters was confident he still had a powerful side at his disposal, despite prolific ball winner Flynn Lakey taking a season off, and several other players moving elsewhere.
Even the most ardent Gisborne fans could not confidently foresee a victory by 160 points on Kangaroo Flat territory, especially as the home club side had won the Reserves’ match easily.
The superior teamwork, confidence in one another, and overall talent was more and more evident as the game progressed.
Danger signs for the Kangaroos were evident when they failed to score a goal in the first term.
Matters deteriorated further for the Kangaroos, and they went to half-time facing a deficit of 68 points.
One-sided matches like this are no good for spectators, and the losing side …. the question at the long break was ‘How much will we win by?’
The third quarter produced 6.2 to two points for Gisborne, and the last quarter was a cakewalk despite the home side more than doubling its score.
Final scores were 32.19 (211) to 7.9 (51).
The skilful pair of Dylan Johnstone and Michelsen Medal winner Brad Bernacki had a field day, defenders Zac Vescovi and Jed Denahy, and utility Campbell Johns were listed in the official ‘best’, but plenty of others also played well.
In other BFNL senior matches, a methodical Sandhurst downed an improved Castlemaine 14.18 (102) to 8.10 (58) at Queen Elizabeth Oval, South Bendigo won a thriller by a point against an inaccurate Strathfieldsaye, and Eaglehawk outscored Golden Square 17.6 to 7.6.
The second round in the BFNL takes place on Saturday, April 26.
Gisborne play South Bendigo at Gardiner Reserve.
