Sport
24 April, 2026
Coach frustration with wayward consistency
A WAYWARD Bridgewater attack took control in the second half against Pyramid Hill on Saturday, leaving coach Lachie Sharp frustrated by his team’s lack of consistency.
In the end, the Mean Machine had double the Bulldogs’ scoring shots to grab their first win at Mitchell Park in five years.
But Sharp bemoaned a first half in which his side was beaten on the inside and outside of the contest and at the stoppages.
Pyramid Hill was four points ahead at half-time after kicking 6.1 to Bridgewater’s 4.9.
The Mean Machine clicked after the main break, kicking 8.7 to 4.3, with Oscar McKinley booting four goals. Sharp, who kicked 2.5, was one of Bridgey’s main culprits in front of goal.
While the team did not perform to expectations, he said “it was good to grind a game out”.
Last year’s best and fairest Luke Ellings was a late withdrawal with groin/back tightness, but his absence gave Pat Murphy an extended run in the midfield.
Wingman Darcy Wood was Bridgewater’s best, thriving in a new role after spending last season at half-back.
Sharp is wary facing a winless Inglewood in the annual Anzac clash on Sunday, with the Woodies having played Pyramid Hill and Marong, teams he rated as among the best in the league.
“We have to get our game going more consistently, and that’s what we will be working on this week.”
Pyramid Hill veteran midfielder Ben Knight continues to shine, while recruit Isaac Brill showed his versatility in booting two goals after beginning the season as an intercept defender.
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly continued his fine start in the Loddon Valley competition, kicking four goals and having an impact all around the ground.
Coach Jarrod Wilkinson said his side “couldn’t own the ball around the contest” and was not good enough on the day, although he felt the scoring-shot differential didn’t reflect the way the match played out.
“It felt like we were always in the game and had more of the ball, but we had double the amount of turnovers between the arcs than they did.”
The Bulldogs will have a least six changes for Saturday’s standalone Anzac Day match against Maiden Gully, with soft tissue injuries hitting hard, but talented young forward Harrison Goodes will return.
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