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BRIDGEWATER withstood a first-half challenge from Bears Lagoon-Serpentine to book a berth in its fifth-straight Loddon Valley Football League grand final on Saturday.
The Mean Machine improved their unblemished record this season to 17-0 with their 16.14 (110) to 8.9 (57) win over the Bears in the second semi-final at Newbridge.
While the final margin blew out to 53 points, it had been game-on at half-time with the Mean Machine just one point ahead, 7.2 to 6.7.
But the four-time defending premiers put their foot down in the second half, adding 9.12 to 2.2.
“We had a lot of players really step it up in the second half,” Bridgewater coach Andrew Collins said.
“Alexander Pollock had been playing on the wing, but him going onto the ball in the second half was fairly influential in swinging the game back our way.
“We didn’t panic with the ball as much in the second half... we retained possession better and that allowed us to spend less time defending because we were turning the ball over quite a bit early.
“Once we did that we were able to swing the game back our way.”
The best players for the Mean Machine were led by Zeb Broadbent (two goals) as his outstanding 2014 through the midfield continued.
Bendigo Gold-listed Pollock in his wing and midfield roles, defender Tristan Nalder, half-forward Josh McLeod and Danny Childs, who played on Justin Wilson, were also among the best for the Mean Machine.
Brad Rohde and Collins kicked three goals each for the Mean Machine, who have now won their past 10 finals.
The Bears didn’t make the most of their scoring opportunities in the first half, trailing by one point at the main break, despite having had four more scoring shots.
“We needed to apply that scoreboard pressure... a lot of the shots we missed in the first half were from 35 to 40m out with no real angle,” Bears coach Damien Featherby said.
“That was disappointing because scoreboard pressure is a big thing when you’re playing a side like Bridgewater.
“In the second half we weren’t as clean with the ball as they were and once they got their game going they were hard to stop.
“Today was the best we’ve played against them this year, but there’s still a lot of work to be done if we can get through and get another crack at them.”
The 53-point margin was the closest the Bears have finished this year against Bridgewater, with the Mean Machine winning the two home and away encounters by 76 and 59 points.
The best for the Bears included Tim O’Hare, who had the big job on Collins, midfielders Gareth Bowes and Nathan McNally, centre half-back Andrew Gladman and wingman Mick Ring.
Justin Wilson kicked three of their eight goals.