DEDERANG-Mount Beauty has a pulse.
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In a season full of drama, Bomber full-forward Daniel Bradshaw kept the door open for a final twist by kicking 13 goals in his team’s shock 26-point win over ladder leader Kiewa-Sandy Creek at Dederang on Saturday.
Marc Almond’s line-up takes on Tallangatta at Tallangatta in this weekend’s final round and must make up 7 per cent to leapfrog Chiltern into fifth position.
The Swans do battle with Beechworth at Beechworth.
Almond described Bradshaw’s performance as sensational.
“He’s in as good form as he has been since he retired from the AFL,” Almond said.
“Daniel’s been pretty much unstoppable since the Rutherglen game.
“To kick 13.3 against Kiewa is unbelievable and he’s in a league of his own at the moment.
“It’s the best he has moved for a while.”
Like last weekend, Dederang-Mount Beauty stormed out of the blocks but this time there was no fadeout with Daniel, Darren and Steve Bradshaw, Dale Lappin, Joel Heiner and Elliott Powell keeping their feet on the Hawks’ throat.
Heiner made 10 tackles in a performance that was typical of the Bombers’ workrate.
The Bombers have now beaten Kiewa-Sandy, Mitta United and Thurgoona but will more than likely struggle to fight their way back into the top five.
“The main thing on Saturday was everyone stuck to the plan,” Almond said.
“We are still in there with a chance but would need things to go right.
“I’m not going to make excuses but I think our inconsistency this season comes down to the fact we have only had Adam and Mark Cole, Troy Price, Joel Mansell, Ben Nicholson, Guy Booker and Andrew Hill for a combined 25 games.
“There is a lot of quality there.”
Kiewa-Sandy Creek, which went into the clash without several key players, including Callum Turner, who made the trip to Canberra to watch his brother Kayne debut for North Melbourne, was best served by Tory Ziems.
He provided a target at centre half-forward and received support from Guy Telford and Wylie Jackson.
Wahgunyah edged out Beechworth by eight points.
While the Lions were never comfortable, they had a matchwinner in Nick Brockley, who kicked 11 goals to be the difference between the teams.
Dayne Carey and Ben Chambeyron battled gamely for the Bushrangers.
Wodonga Saints produced a big final quarter to edge out Yackandandah by 12 points at Martin Park.
Trailing by 10 points at three quarter-time, the home team lifted with Chris Hutchinson, Craig Jarvis and Matt Jaensch lifting the team to 10th.
Roo star Trent Castles did his Barton Medal chances no harm with a dominant display.