Sport
2 May, 2024
Mean Machine drives home goals
TEN minutes of fightback from Inglewood was soon shrugged off by a faster, more determined and physical Bridgewater in Saturday’s Loddon Valley league Anzac clash. The Blues were left flat-footed as Bridgewater quickly racked up four goals -...
TEN minutes of fightback from Inglewood was soon shrugged off by a faster, more determined and physical Bridgewater in Saturday’s Loddon Valley league Anzac clash.
The Blues were left flat-footed as Bridgewater quickly racked up four goals - Sharp, McKinley, Conway and Martyn had their names on the scorecard.
It took a few smarts from Mitch Conlan for Inglewood to cause major movement on the scoreboard. The Blues would add two more for the term in a flurry that saw ruckman Tom Kennedy laying foundations for a courageous performance all day while Liam Marciano was also putting his body on the line.
Down by 21 points at the first break, that would be as close as the Blues could get to the Mean Machine.
Harry McKinley quickly found Andrew Collins and Bridgewater had its first major of the second term.
Cody Stobaus emerged as the Blues’ most effective player for the term, keeping Lachlan Sharp to just one goal. But the depth and experience in the Mean Machine shined. Tyler Estrada chipped in a nice goal, Conway milked the free and subsequent 50-metre penalty to extend Bridgewater’s lead. Lee Coghlan, too, was in the action but an injury could see him miss a week or two.
Not to be overshadowed, Broden Alexander on a forward flank was a consistent contributor in the first half. He was in multiple passages of constructive play, creating opportunities and would keep up the effort for all four quarters.
Alexander was one of the vital cogs linking strong defence and agile midfield to generate inwards 50s.
A late goal to Inglewood’s Marciano did little to change the match dynamic.
Bridgewater up by 13 goals systematically zapped the spirit of Inglewood in the second half despite the Pollak brothers, Kennedy and Marciano trying to counter the tsunami that was unleashed every time the Blues got anywhere near their forward 50.
But the real highlight was still to come. Sharp had eight goals at three-quarter time.
The final quarter became an exhibition in skill and sharpshooting as he slotted through seven majors and directed traffic in the forward line with the focus of a battle-hardened general and finished the day with 15.
Some came from outsmarting two opponents in the square, others from quick running to the space, others with a level of luck only good players have created.
Sharp’s main opponent for the term was Luke Matheson who tried hard to contain one of the league’s new goalkicking sensations. When Inglewood’s defence did get on top, the turnovers were only metres up the ground.
The rapidity of Bridgewater’s inside 50s swamped the Blues who was valiant in defeat.
None more so that Kennedy who was named the match’s most courageous player and received the 2024 Eddie Harrison Medal presented by Inglewood-Bridgewater RSL sub-branch.
- CHRIS EARL