Bulldogs hold out against Bombers to book second qualifying final

By Oliver Shedden

Aug 18, 2024

L-G’s Zeb Ellwood bags a goal in the qualifying final. Photo: Aidan Briggs Photo by Aidan Briggs

North Bendigo came from behind to beat Leitchville-Gunbower at the buzzer to secure a second qualifying final birth in the Heathcote and District Football League.

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Playing on neutral ground, there was not much to separate the two sides, as both kicked a pair of goals in the first quarter, yet the Bombers held the lead at the break with a couple more behinds.

L-G carried it first-quarter form into the second period, drilling a trio of maximums and a behind while locking up on defence. It held the Bulldogs to a goal and behind, its lead now 14 at the half-time siren.

Following the break, North Bendigo rallied to find the middle of the sticks on two occasions, along with seven behinds, hogging the majority of attacking chances on offer in the third term.

Meanwhile, the Bombers had their quietest period of the match, only able to kick a sole goal and three behinds in the quarter; their lead now dwindled to just four points with a tight final frame looming.

After a solid third quarter, the wind was in North Bendigo’s sails down the stretch, kicking three crucial goals late and a pair of behinds to tally their strongest quarter.

Meanwhile, L-G struggled to get anything going on the attacking end, again only finding one goal with four behinds.

This meant that in utterly heartbreaking fashion, the Bombers had the game ripped away from them in crunch time, unable to come up big when it mattered most.

Remember, it is not about how you start but how you end.

The final score was L-G 7.11 (53) to 8.11 (59).

Goals were a valuable commodity in a relatively low-scoring affair, with the Bombers’ Fraser Buchanan coming up big for his side, kicking a pair.

Jye Keath, Brady Hore, Christopher Horman, Joel Donehue, James Brereton and Jobee Warde were named as L-G’s in the match for their on-field contributions.

With their season now on the line, the Bombers will face Heathcote in the semi-final to advance to the preliminary final, where they will play the loser of White Hills vs North Bendigo.