LAST year’s runners-up Donald enacted revenge and resurrected their 2023 season with a comeback five-point win over reigning premiers Birchip-Watchem at the weekend.
After holding a six-point lead at the first change, the Royal Blues quickly fell behind as the Bulls kicked five goals to one in the second quarter to take a 15-point lead into the third quarter.
Donald responded after the main break, however, slowly turning the momentum in their favour, before pouncing with four last-quarter goals to finish with an 11.9 (75) to 10.10 (70) win – and join the logjam of sides fighting for a top-four berth.
With just four points separating third-placed Nullawil and the seventh-placed Donald, Birchip-Watchem’s loss could be seen as a missed opportunity to separate themselves from the pack.
The Bulls instead find themselves two points outside the top four and facing key matches against fellow finals aspirants Wedderburn and Boort in the next fortnight.
Donald coach Rohan Brown spoke following his side’s season-defining win and was most impressed with the performance of the Royal Blues’ younger players.
“(Birchip-Watchem are) a bloody good side, as everyone knows, and they’re even harder to beat at home, but I was just really proud of the way our group fought back to get the result,” Brown said.
“It’s been a really tough start to the year with unavailability and injuries, but it all clicked and it was a good reward for everyone’s hard work over the last few weeks.
“The most pleasing thing is it gives a lot of our young, local kids belief that they’re good enough to play at senior level and compete against a really good-quality opposition.
“They all stood up in some big moments and it was really pleasing to see.”
The ageless Ross Young turned back the clock with a best-afield display for the Royal Blues, kicking three goals alongside key forward Sam Dunstan, who had an absorbing battle with the Bulls’ Dale Hinkley for much of the afternoon.
Daniel Pearce was entrusted with the task of nullifying the Ben Edwards at the other end of the ground, with the Bulls’ leading goalkicker held to three goals.
Donald ruckman Josh Potter was vital in the last quarter, giving his onballers first use out of the middle. Brown identifed Potter’s impact as one of the keys to his team’s win.
“If you give a good side every chance to win a centre clearance and get it into guys like Edwards, (Nathan) Gordon and (Lachy) Foott, then you’re under the pump straightaway,” Brown said.
“We got on top in centre clearance which was good and guys just went to work and gave our forwards every opportunity to impact the game.”
The news wasn’t all good for Donald, however, with Ryley Barrack injuring his hamstring, placing him in doubt to take his place against St Arnaud this Saturday.
St Arnaud suffered a 47-point loss to second-placed Wycheproof-Narraport.
The Hommelhoff brothers Gedd and Koby were the stars of the show for the visitors, contributing 10 goals between them in the 15.10 (100) to 8.5 (53) victory.
The win by the Demons sets up an exciting encounter with Nullawil this weekend. The Maroons easily accounted for Charlton by 90 points.
Adam Thomson stepped up in the absence of key forwards Andrew Oberdorfer and Mitch Farmer, contributing a game high six goals in the 21.12 (138) to 7.6 (48) win.
In the closest game of round 5, Wedderburn resurrected their season with a two-point win over Boort.
The win moves the Redbacks back into finals consideration along with the Royal Blues.
Wedderburn’s inaccuracy in front of goal almost cost them the four points. They finished with 9.15 (69) to the Magpies’ 10.7 (67).
Darcy Jackson, Jordan Rosengren and Louis Holt were all influential for the Redbacks, while Keiren Wilson and Jarrod Fitzpatrick were named among Boort’s better players.
