BFNL leaves nothing out on the interleague field of battle

DOOMSAYERS beware, interleague football is alive and well in Bendigo.

That is despite the BFNL coming out on the wrong side of a thriller against the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) at the QEO last Sunday.

Extra time was needed to separate the combatants after the BFNL had clawed its way back from a 26-point deficit at quarter time to be nipping at the heels of the VAFA throughout a tense and exciting contest.

A pair of goals in extra time, the first only 35 seconds in from the boot of VAFA star Bailey Payze, kept a brave BFNL at bay, giving the visitors a second straight win over the BFNL after prevailing by 13 points last year on their home turf at Elsternwick Park.

When appointed as BFNL senior coach last December, Simon Rosa made known his desire to elevate the honour of interleague and pride in the BFNL brand.

On Sunday, he and his charges did all of that and more by leaving nothing out on the field of battle.

“For any spectator that came today to watch rep footy – interleague footy – they would walk away pretty happy I think,” an upbeat Rosa said.

“That was one big thing I wanted to bring, just a bit of honour back into playing rep footy.

“I feel the spectators who came today, and even the players. Even though we lost, they are still pretty happy about it all.”

 

The BFNL was left to rue a number of missed chances in the final term and into overtime.

The hosts booted 1.10 after three-quarter time, having worked diligently to get themselves back into the contest by keeping the VAFA goalless in the second term and for much of the third.

“I thought we could have iced it a bit earlier,” Rosa said.

“We kicked one goal, 10 from three-quarter time onwards … hit the post a few times.

“It was disappointing, but in the end, I was so proud of the boys that they were able to fight back.

“The way they fought into the wind – it was a pretty tricky breeze today (Sunday) – but they fought hard into the breeze to give ourselves an opportunity to be where we were in the third quarter.

“Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get the job done.”

That the BFNL couldn’t quite get over the line spoke volumes about the quality of opposition, with the VAFA’s band of smalls revelling in the blustery and later wet conditions.

And while the BFNL peppered the goals to no avail in the final few minutes of regulation time and in extra time, the VAFA seemingly made the most of its rare chances.

A goal from the VAFA’s James Allen, three minutes into the second five-minute period, eventually sealed the BFNL’s fate.

 

In coming so near, the effort of the BFNL could not be faulted, according to Rosa.

“Our pressure was really good all day,” he said.

“I especially thought we worked really hard into the breeze to score.”

Star Sandhurst on-baller Lachlan Tardrew led the charge for the BFNL, with a tireless performance earning him the Derrick Filo Medal as the BFNL’s best.

It added to his growing collection of recent silverware, including last year’s Michelsen Medal and the Nalder Medal as best on ground in the Dragons’ premiership win.

Rosa could not have been more glowing in his praise of Tardrew.

“Big players love big games,” he said.

“As I said to the boys at three quarter time, good players become great players in big games and he’s one of those guys who just finds a way.

“So, whether it’s a big final or a rep footy game, I always had full faith in him that he would play well.

“He showed that again today.

“The cream always rises to the top I suppose.

“That’s probably where Tardy sets himself apart from the rest of competition at times, his will to win the footy and his will to find the footy and make good choices.”

His Dragons teammate Cobi Maxted was a key to keeping the BFNL in touch with the VAFA early in the game and one of the instigators in the resurgence with his three goals and strong marking.

Playing his first senior interleague game, Lachie Hood won plenty of ball and set the tone with his pressure, while Jayden Burke and Jack Reaper were the generals of a tight-knit backline that conceded only three goals in the second, third and fourth quarters.

Following a great endorsement of representative football, Rosa is keener than ever to grow the interleague brand and even explore new horizons.

“For some of these guys, it’s the biggest game, the best game, the best standard game they will play for the year,” he said.

“I know there has been some discussions around some other leagues.

“The rivalry with the VAFA is good – they have beaten us twice – but I’d like to see us play some of our neighbours in time.

“But for me, as long as interleague football is still there to give these kids an opportunity to play, that is the most important thing.”