By Nick Creely
They moved the ball with precision, ran them off their feet and never gave them an inch of space.
The Bendigo Football Netball League were merciless from start to finish, handing AFL Outer East a heavy defeat in the AFL Victoria Community Championships on Saturday, 18.17 (125) to 3.8 (26).
A strong crowd came in droves to QEO in Bendigo to see the home side and the inaugural interleague side of the Outer East do battle, and from the early stages, it was obvious that the slickness of the home team would provide plenty of headaches for coach Nick Rutley.
In the early stages, despite not perhaps putting the score on the board, Bendigo were cutting the Outer East up with their handballing game, moving their way around the ground with precision before getting the ball into dangerous spots in their attacking 50.
It was as if it was déjà vu at times – intercept the ball, run and gun, and then eventually score.
The Outer East defence were working overtime, and after a goalless first term, were trailing by 25 points after a four-goal opening term to the home side. Had it not been for many desperate efforts from the defenders, it could have been a lot worse.
Outer East coach Nick Rutley was adamant in the huddle at quarter time that they just had to work harder and change the angles to utilise the unique dimensions of the ground, similar to the home team, who changed the angles at a rate that couldn’t be contained.
But, a blistering second-term completely flattened Outer East, with Bendigo slamming on six-goals to one, with co-captain Marcus Hottes the only to score a goal for the under-siege visitors that term after managing to dribble one through in traffic..
With the likes of skipper Jackson Geary, Pat McKenna, Nathan Horbury and eventual best-afield Jake Thurum cutting the game apart, it was a devastating quarter that saw the Outer East return to the sheds licking their wounds and wondering where to go next.
Despite the defence holding up well in the third term, largely through the efforts of Brandon Osborne and the impressive young Will Arthurson, they couldn’t put any pressure at all on the scoreboard, with just three behinds scored for the visitors to take them to a woeful 1.7 at three quarter time, trailing by a whopping 74-points with a quarter to play.
Within seconds of the final term, the home side piled on more pain, with an easy goal setting the tone for a potential three-figure loss, and after the visitors rallied late to add two more goals, Bendigo still ran out 99-point winners after slamming on an impressive six final-term majors.
In a bitterly disappointing day for Outer East – who were missing plenty of stars through injury and unavailability – Osborne was outstanding in defence, Hottes was a bull in the middle, while youngsters Patrick Bruzzese and Will Arthurson stood tall all day in a terrific sign for the future of the competition.
Rutley lamented Outer East’s disposal – particularly by foot – and said that they just didn’t give themselves enough chances to score by turning the ball over whenever they moved the ball forward.
“We had patches of play that were quite good early, and we went inside 50 more than them in a period, but we couldn’t connect, we were dysfunctional centre of forward – the story of the day is that we just gave the ball back, I’d hate to see the efficiency by foot, because it would have been drastically bad,” he said.
“Every time we got the ball we couldn’t chain possession, and we can’t take anything away from Bendigo’s pressure and set-up, but when you continue to give the ball back, and in a game that’s a one-off and a team gets a buffer, they can play with more freedom, so it’s very hard to stop.”
Bendigo’s ball movement, and their ability to use the width of the ground was a pivotal factor in the outcome of the match, according to Rutley, who said his side just couldn’t match their work rate to spread from the contest and run.
“I felt like when the play was moving we tended to ball watch, and meant our entire side was falling in on the contest, and all of a sudden, we win the footy and we have no options because we’re just so skinny in our set-up,” he said.
“They (Bendigo) back their numbers at the contest, and it makes them look like millionaires, but the reality is, it’s just smart, disciplined footy.”
Keen to continue on next year if given the chance, Rutley said it was important for him to learn exactly who will buy in to the interleague program going forward.
“I need to get that ball rolling early, and just get a gauge on who wants to go further with this, and who’s had their time, and there would be a few players in the side that have had their time,” he said.
“The rest of us was just so young – there’s positives in everything, and a lot of our young players got exposed by some really good players, and some good footy, so that’s not a bad thing.
“They’ve been pushed to the edge of their ability – some of these guys have been on the good side of a few 100-point wins, and they would have got a good culture shock.”
In the Under 18s game prior to the senior clash, Bendigo also scored a victory against a wasteful Outer East, 9.5 (59) to 6.13 (49).
The Outer East controlled proceedings for a large chunk of the clash, but crucially struggled to convert many simple chances throughout the afternoon.
Rogan Goonan was best-afield in a losing cause in what was a tremendous performance.
In the netball results, Outer East went down 55-40 to Bendigo in the senior netball clash, with Seville’s Steph McNay named best on court, while an impressive Bendigo unit won 62-35 against Outer East in the Under 17 clash.
