THE Broadford-Yea senior football combination showed home supporters at Harley Hammond Reserve plenty to like on Saturday, but failed to finish off its good work in a 48-point loss.
Playing Outer East Football Netball division two’s third-placed side in Yarra Junction, Broadford-Yea was able to restrict the Eagles’ scoring opportunities but struggled to create chances for itself in a 5.5 (35) to 11.17 (83) loss.
Lachlan Phillips and Jayme Ruedin held down the combination’s back line, while Braydon Hardstaff played a customarily strong game in the midfield and Liam Lucas was named best afield.
Neil Johnson was the sole multiple-goal kicker with two, while Sean Duggan, Shanyn Kearney and Angus Norris registered singles.
Coach Jayden Welch said there was no lack of effort, only execution by his players.
“We would do a lot of good things and then undo all of that good work with one or two small things that really hurt us on the rebound,” he said.
“The level of effort was good. It’s probably the first time we’ve been consistent across four quarters.
“There were a couple of three-minute lapses at the start of the third and fourth quarters where they kicked two or three goals, but to our credit we shut them down after that.
“Usually it might blow out by nine or 10 goals during those runs, but we were able to stop it after two or three and be very competitive after that.”
A bye this weekend has come at a good time for Broadford-Yea, with an ankle injury to Bryce Fleming testing the side’s depth.
Welch said the team would use the break to regroup before a challenging home game against second-placed Kinglake.
The Lakers beat Broadford-Yea by 77 points in their previous meeting in round eight.
Netball
Broadford’s A Grade netballers dominated against Yarra Junction on Saturday, winning 64-16 in one of their best displays of the season.
Caitlin Hinrichsen starred in the goal circle, scoring 36 times in her best individual performance of 2022.
Renee Sari, with 24 goals, was also in fine form, while Ally Black played three different positions in a best-on-court performance.
The Roos can make it two on the trot this week against Kinglake, which has only one win from its 11 games.
Broadford’s B Grade side also enjoyed a day out with a 58-23 win, while the Roos’ C Grade team downed the Eagles 52-10.
