Wood, sun and rain clouds from Southern California

Bright sunny skies welcomed all on Saturday morning for the final home and away round for the year, with the Bulldogs heading to Korumburra to take on the Giants.

Brought back memories of that great song ‘It never rains in Southern Korumburra (perhaps California, but close), it pours, man it pours’.

With an interesting forecast, the song may turn out to be true!

As part of special fund-raising for the Korumburra club, a large trailer of wood was on offer for the club raffle.

The ‘luck’ of the Vernons continued, this time Bulldogs coach and leader Beau Vernon coming out the winner of the wood.

Hope Beau has an open fire, and a towbar on his van!

Seniors

With Cam Pedersen and Matt Jackson being ‘managed’ – with arm twisting to excruciating levels being reported – the Bulldogs headed in with a number of changes against Korumburra.

A difficult year for the opposition, with just one win, and bottom position all but locked in.

With the heavens most surely closing in after bright sunshine for the curtain raiser games, the game started in dreary, cold, and drizzling conditions.

The play matched the conditions, with constant forays into the forward line for the Bulldogs resulting in, well, not much.

Six straight points by the mid-way point had nightmares of games past coming back for the Bulldogs, but finally a goal and a 14-0 lead at quarter time.

Zac Vernon, and the Taylor two – this time Billy and Ben Taylor – leading the stats.

Q2 wasn’t much better – Eli (Dr Evil) Richards was outstanding, with his on-ball colleague Zac Vernon everywhere.

Levi Robinson and Jason Tomada led the defence stout.

Tarquin McMillan matched his more experienced opponent in the ruck, whilst Matt Jones was having his best day for some time on the wing.

Unfortunately, the results were not on the board, as the points continued, and a 36-1 score line at half time.

The third continued the relatively uninspiring footy combined with drizzling rain – not quite pouring but making sure that song continued to ring true!

Max Blake took charge with three goals, with Brendan Kimber deciding enough was enough, destroying the opposition with bone crunching tackles combined with classy footy.

Harry O’Brien began making his presence felt in the forward line, as the Bulldogs kicked six goals eight to move to an 80-1 lead.

Three quarter time saw reports the Korumburra president offered suitable enticements for a goal – any goal – from his team.

All of a sudden, the game came alive with three goals to Korumburra, and eight (with only three points) for the Bulldogs in a quarter unrecognisable from first three.

Max Blake was supreme, the Evil twins Eli Richards and Zack Wagner on top, whilst the Taylors-two were strong.

On to the finals and a well-earned second place on the ladder, giving the team a well-earned break next weekend before heading to Inverloch to take on Tooradin in two weeks’ time.

Scores:
Phillip Island: 1.8.14, 4.12.36, 10.20.80, 18.23.131.
Korumburra-Bena: 0.0.0, 0.1.1, 0.1.1, 3.6.24.
 

Goals:
Phillip Island: Max Blake 5, Zak Vernon 2, Harry O’Brien 2, Cameron Brown, Billy Taylor, Tarquin McMillan, Matthew Jones, Zach Wagner, Eli Richards, Jack Taylor, Jesse Patullo.
Korumburra-Bena: Jay Walker, Darcy Hargrave, Matt Kennewell.

Best Players:
Phillip Island: Eli Richards, Zak Vernon, Max Blake, Jason Tomada, Harry O’Brien, Billy Taylor.
Korumburra-Bena: Matthew Lello, Jay Walker, James Dunn, Josh Hargreaves, Liam Hall, Darcy Hargrave.