JINDERA continued its domination over CDHBU with a workmanlike 34-point victory in the minor semi-final at Walbundrie on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite losing coach Josh Walker in the opening 10 minutes with a hamstring injury, the Bulldogs had more run after half-time and raced clear to set-up a preliminary final clash against Murray Magpies.
They have now beaten their opponents in 14 of their 15 meetings since CDHBU joined the league.
Walker was thrilled with his team’s second-half performance.
“It was a super win,” Walker said.
“The first half was really tight and I thought our intensity level wasn’t quite where it needed to be.
“We came out in the third quarter and lifted that and everything fell into place.
“It was purely workrate.”
And some telling individual performances.
Kurt Brereton stepped up superbly to play one of his best matches for the club while Zach Gratton nullified Power speedster Kade Rowe.
Nick Dempsey was a constant threat in the ruck and up forward, Michael Blomeley thrived in the heavy conditions and Kris Holman’s precision kicking set up many scoring opportunities.
Nick Holman worked hard for his possessions against Ben Wilson.
Will King held CDHBU young gun Matt Walker in the second-half after he booted three majors before half-time while Damian Payne kicked three to split the honours with Jindera defender Tom Weldon.
CDHBU looked the better side for the opening 15 minutes of the match before Jindera sprung into action with the next five majors to regain control.
The Power cut the deficit to three points at half-time after late goals to Payne and Matt Walker.
Payne gave CDHBU the lead early in the third term but that was as far as the Power progressed as Jindera raced clear to lead by 25 points at the final change.
Although CDHBU had no stand-outs, Tim Cooper, Matt Walker, Nathan Rhodes, Matt Howard, Jeremy Stevenson and Andrew Ollington were solid performers.
Walker said he was unsure if he would be fit to take on the Magpies.
“It’s a bit of a hammy,” he said.
“I’ll wait and see how it comes up later in the week.”
Jindera will be looking to go one better than last season after it lost to Henty in the preliminary final.
League officials confirmed the preliminary final would be played at Walbundrie after they considered switching the match to Culcairn due to more forecast rain.
Meanwhile, the league’s Azzi medal count will be held at Henty on Wednesday.
