A blistering second quarter was the catalyst for Waves to inflict a crushing 19.9 (123) to 5.9 (39) win over rivals Brothers Bulldogs in the opening round of the Wide Bay AFL season.
Leading by three goals at the first break, Waves came out firing to pile on nine majors to take a 67-point lead into halftime.
From that point in the game the Brothers players were fighting for pride, and not the premiership points as they had hoped for going into the match at Coulthard Oval.
Waves spearhead Jason Bethune kicked four goals for his team, and he was joined by 10 others on the score sheet from the victors.
For Brothers there were no multiple goal scorers in the heavy defeat to open their 2020 campaign.
After the match Bethune said the win was a perfect way to get back to what he loves doing each winter.
“I'm absolutely stoked to be back playing footy,” Bethune said.
“It's been a different year, it’s been different for everybody, everywhere.
“It's just great to be back playing footy, to get some normality back in to our lives and I am really happy to get a win against Brothers.”
Bethune added the mood was great among his teammates before the game with addition of some new players, and returning club greats, and the Waves are aiming for improvement from previous seasons.
“Obviously, we have been down for a number of years now, so we have put in the work, and we are happy to be back playing footy,” he said.
“It’s a good way to start the season, and hopefully the following week we win as well.”
It may have been the worst way to start the season for Brothers, the game was not without positives.
Jack Sickerdick once again showed his class, and that he is the player the clubs needs if it is to be a premiership threat, and youngsters such as Harry Hodgson proved the Bulldogs had developing talent coming through the ranks.
In next week’s games Brothers Bulldogs host Bay Power at Brothers Sports Complex, and Waves travel to Hervey Bay to take on the Bombers; both matches begin at 2pm.
The Waves V Bulldogs AFL scoreboard
Waves 3.3, 12.5, 14.8, 19.9 (123) d Brothers Bulldogs 0.2, 1.4, 3.4, 5.9 (39)
Goals – Waves J Bethune 4, J Forrestall 3, M Wright, K Wagstaff, E Hawkins 2, M Sommer Liverton, P Power, N Van Eekeren, J McInerney, J Marshall, J Lawrence
Brothers L Neophitou, A Rendell, D Keam, H Hodgson, R McKeown
Best players – Waves N Van Eekeren, C Woodrow, J Lawrence, M Wright
Brothers not supplied
- Other news: Troy takes a travel break for AFL success
