Drouin defeated in yet another thriller
Don't ever count these Hawks out. That's now the prevailing message coming out of Drouin, after they just fell short for the third time this season, this time against Bairnsdale.
The Hawks appeared well out of the game on more than one occasion but, as they have done multiple times this year, were able to work their way back into the game every time.
Unfortunately, as has also happened in their previous two matches, they just couldn't quite get the four points, falling 14.17 (101) to 16.12 (108).
Young tall Hugo Birks showed once again that he's a rising talent to keep an eye on as he kicked six goals.
His work rate up and down the ground has been a feature of his first three games in the Gippsland League, and on his current trajectory he's sure to cause more headaches for opposition coaches this year.
He wasn't the only big man to have an impact, as ruckman Aaron Pawel put in a body of work to help the Hawks find first use of the ball. Given it's Pawel's first season in years, there's been plenty to like about him.
But, as young teams tend to do at times, the Hawks were unable to play their best footy for the entirety of the game, with Bairnsdale taking advantage of their lapses.
The Redlegs jumped out to an early lead, largely thanks to their tall timber.
The Hawks were without some of their vital backmen, including former coach Jordan Kingi and the reliable Ryan Taylor.
It meant that the likes of Logan Austin and John Gooch could get the game going on the Redlegs' terms with some solid marking.
Coupled with strong performances from Kieran Vickery in the backline and Thomas Hudson up forward, by half time the Redlegs were out to a 31-point lead.
Not helping the visitors' case was the loss of Matt Stein, who left the field with a concussion. But as they've shown on multiple occasions now, Drouin are a team that won't die wondering.
Having primarily played through the corridor and into Bairnsdale's hands for much of the first half, the Hawks began to spread the ball, using the wide expanses of the Bairnsdale City Oval to their advantage.
Jarrod Marshall and Will Papley were the primary perpetrators, as was Gippsland Power captain Seb Amoroso, who finished the day with three goals.
Whenever the Hawks came close to evening the game though, the Redlegs found an answer. It meant that going into the final term Drouin had a 27-point mountain to climb.
They kept coming though. The ball primarily lived in the Hawks' forward half for most of the final quarter.
Bairnsdale, as they had been at the end of their slog against Sale last week, appeared out on their feet.
The only issue for Drouin was their finishing. They'll be left to rue what might have been, as a return of 4.8 for the term will leave them wondering what might have been had they kicked straight.
Still, as it was last week, the Hawks lost no admirers. The red and blue home crowd were left happy with the Redlegs win but no doubt they were also pleased to see a cracking game between two teams that had their struggles last year.
Drouin coach Brent Clinnick lauded his players' efforts, saying "I love coaching these boys."
"I'm really proud of them to be honest. Their competitiveness is phenomenal," he said.
Clinnick said that execution was now the focus for the side, and that if they get that right then the wins will hopefully come.
"It's us losing these games, it's not the opposition getting away from us."
The result now leaves Bairnsdale as one of just three undefeated sides in the league ad sitting nicely in the top five. They've already bettered their record of two wins last year, their heavy recruiting spree in the offseason paying dividends.
An away clash against top team Moe next week will tell us more about just where they sit.
For Drouin, it was another showing of great spirit, but the group will need some reward for effort soon. Despite the fact that they currently sit on the bottom of the table with three losses, their percentage is the sixth best in the league.
They have a tough three-week period coming up, as they play 2022 finalists Traralgon, Wonthaggi and Sale.
A host of players should return for those games, potentially including Gippsland Power forward and AFL mid-season draft hopeful Ryan Maric.
They may not win those games, but if their first three matches are anything to go by then they'll enter them with the belief that they can.