DESPERATE LUNGE: Hawk Jamie Berry attempts to smother a Grant Harris kick on the weekend. PHOTO: Ebony D'Arcy

Bright looking to secure double chance this week

Written by SCOTT ANDERSON and ALEX BAIRD.

BRIGHT can cement its position in the Ovens and King Football League’s top four, and secure a vital double chance in the finals, this weekend when it hosts Tatong.

While the Mountain Men have enjoyed a superb season so far, winning 13 of their 15 games, the strength of the top five sides has made it impossible to establish any breathing space within the top four.

Whorouly’s win over Bonnie Doon at the weekend keeps the fifth-placed Lions, who boast a record of 11-4, in the hunt, but if the Mountain Men can register a big win over the Magpies this week they will be hard to replace in the four.

Bright did what it had to do – and more – against North Wangaratta at the weekend, recording a 146-point victory.

Skipper Steve Nightingale was once again absent, this time due to his selection for the Victoria District side at the Australian Country Football Championships in Canberra, but the Mountain Men barely missed his presence in the middle, with Ryan Kent, Ricky Clarke and Dean Benstead dominating the clearances.

Coach Steve Bozicevic had hoped to have Matt Cavedon back from VFL club Frankston in order to ensure his eligibility to play finals for Bright, but it wasn’t to be, with his clearance denied.

Still, there were no weak links in a Bright outfit that completely dominated the match from the opening bounce, with an eight goal to one first quarter a sign of things to come.

Bozicevic was rapt with the end result, particularly the second half, in which Bright outscored the Hawks 15.6 to 1.2.

"To hold them to one goal after half time was excellent," Bozicevic said.

"The last couple of weeks we have come into some bad habits but I thought we played our own game this week."

Bozicevic praised the work ethic of his on-ball brigade, as well as full forward Riley O’Shea, who booted seven goals to take his season tally to 50, but said he was looking for even more improvement against Tatong this weekend.

"I thought our midfielders were brilliant – guys like Ricky Clarke, Ryan Kent and Dean Benstead were great."

"Riley played up the ground a little, which was a good sign.