Gisborne proved too good for Kyneton in the battle of skeleton staff at Gardiner Reserve.
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Combined the clubs were missing close to 30 players because of the restriction on Melbourne travel, which forced the Dogs and Tigers to field their youngest teams of the season.
Gisborne won the game 22.17 (149) to 7.7 (49), but the young Tigers gave a good account of themselves.
"Kyneton is one of the more physical teams in the competition and they gave it their all,'' Gisborne coach Rob Waters said.
"We had a bit more experience than they did and we probably got away from them at the end of each quarter.
"In the first quarter the score read (6.5 to 1.0) like we dominated, but for the first 15-20 minutes the game was in the balance and it was only late that we got away."
One of the major differences between the two teams was that Gisborne had its two premier key forward targets - Pat McKenna and Jack Scanlon - on the park.
They kicked five goals each and finished off the good work done by youngsters Macklan Lord, Flynn Lakey and Sam Graham.
Kyneton battled hard around the ball, but didn't have the firepower forward of centre to make the most of its inside 50 entries.
Ned O'Sullivan, Tommy O'Sullivan and Rhys Magin were the Tigers' best, while big man Jordan Mangan played well, despite being hampered by an injury in the second half.
"It was a difficult week for everyone,'' Waters said.
"It was just a matter of adapting to everything that went on and making the most of the opportunity to play a game of footy."
Gisborne moved into third spot on the ladder and the Dogs face Maryborough next week in another game they should win.
The seventh-placed Tigers host ladder-leader Sandhurst at the Kyneton Showgrounds. The Tigers will ahve their fingers and toes crossed that the Melbourne travel ban is lifted before next Saturday.
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