A classy second-half effort from Lindenow has seen the Cats advance to the 2026 East Gippsland Football Netball League thirds grand final, defeating Lucknow by 25 points in the preliminary final at the Bairnsdale City Oval on Saturday.
The result sets up a replay of last year’s decider against reigning premier Lakes Entrance, who will take the field as warm favourites. Lindenow will also welcome back Charlie Moss and Hunter Crane, who missed the preliminary final.
Momentum swung back and forth in the first half before the Cats asserted their authority after the main break, booting eight goals to two in the second half to run out comfortable victors.
Lindenow came out firing, kicking three goals in the opening 11 minutes on the back of an 11-to-two inside-50 advantage. Titus Harrison kicked the opener with a polished finish running through 50. The busy Xavier Cook won the next clearance and went long, allowing Archie Irish to score a clever crumbing goal.
Cooper Lack looked lively up forward for the Magpies but missed three kickable set shots in the term, prompting the coaching staff to move him into defence. At the 11-minute mark, Cook delivered the ball quickly inside to Irish, who was held and converted the resulting free kick for his second.
Lucknow dominated the final nine minutes of the opening term with six consecutive entries. Despite several missed opportunities (0.5), Lindenow’s elite defensive pressure kept the Magpies at bay.
Lindenow opened the second term with a 14-point advantage, but Lucknow whittled it away quickly. Ollie Hodson goaled early off a free kick before Lack found Nash Faithfull for his first. Faithfull roved cleverly inside 50 shortly after to kick his second, putting the Magpies in front.
Brad Saulle snapped truly to extend Lucknow’s lead to 10 points. Jhye Ritchie finally broke a run of 12 consecutive Magpie entries with a behind for the Cats. Late in the term, Faithfull found Hodson for his second major.
As time ticked away, Cook kicked long towards Tanner Croucher, but the umpires spotted a free kick to Irish, who kicked his third to reduce the margin to nine points at half time.
Hodson caused continuous problems for defender Ryan Hine early in the third term, while Jack Brodribb and Blade Connelly impressed across half-back for the Magpies.
Lindenow coach Patty Alexander moved Irish into the middle, and the playmaker lifted the Cats instantly. Durome Abbey snapped cleverly out of the ruck to cut the margin to under a goal, before out-marking Croucher to put Lindenow back in front — a lead they would not relinquish.
Lachlan Taylor worked hard for Lucknow, but his entries met strong resistance from Kade Musselwhite and Will Davidson. Lindenow’s key movers, including Xavier Lane and Nash Aquilina, stepped up as Cook put the Cats eight points in front.
When Malakai Ritchie converted a free kick in the goal square, the margin stretched to 14 points. Malakai Ritchie marked and goaled again shortly after to extend the gap to 20.
Strong defensive pressure on Cook as he streamed out of defence allowed Hodson to boot a goal against the flow for the Magpies. Cook quickly responded, converting his second goal following a 50-metre penalty to close out the term.
The final quarter turned into an arm wrestle. Irish kicked his fourth from a snap at the 10-minute mark to push the margin to 26 points and effectively seal the contest. Hodson pegged one back with his fourth goal for Lucknow, but a late major from Irish — his fifth of the match — established the final 25-point margin.
Harrison, Cook and Irish were standouts for the Cats, well supported by Musselwhite, Abbey, and Jhye Ritchie. Taylor, Connelly, Croucher, Brodribb, Reign Hubbard and Hodson were best for the Magpies, with Hubbard fighting hard in the ruck against the athletic Harrison.
While thrilled to reach another decider, the Cats face a significant task if they are to threaten Lakes Entrance in the grand final.
FINAL SCORE
Lindenow 3.1 4.2 10.3 12.6 (78)
Lucknow 0.5 5.5 6.6 7.11 (53)
GOALS – Lindenow: A. Irish 5, X. Cook 2, D. Abbey 2, M. Ritchie 2, T. Harrison 1. Lucknow: O. Hodson 4, N. Faithfull 2, B. Saulle 1.
BEST – Lindenow: T. Harrison, X. Cook, K. Musselwhite, L. Irish, D. Abbey, J. Ritchie. Lucknow: L. Taylor, T. Croucher, J. Brodribb, R. Hubbard, H. Kerr, K. Hammer.
