AARON DEGREEF

FREELING’S finals campaign ended without a whimper after it was smashed by Barossa District by 64 points in Sunday’s Barossa, Light & Gawler A-grade elimination final.
The atmosphere was electric during the do or die game, and the Dogs seemed to thrive in the conditions as Launce Kent opened their account by taking two running bounces and streaming into an open goal.
Shortly after, the ball then fell into the hands of Jarrod Traynor who leant back and bent the footy through after receiving a nice pass from Ethan Gant.
However, Freeling’s Ben Heinrich put a major score on the board to stem the tide.
The Dogs’ response was quick, and Leigh Ryswyk in his usual fashion got his hands on the pill and guided through two critical goals.
Barossa led by 26 points at the first break, and looked home and hosed already.
The Dogs’ form continued well into the second quarter with Riley Allington and Ryan Watson getting involved and collecting a goal each.
But, after a lengthy struggle across the midfield, Freeling back through Adam Cockshell.
Barossa’s lead still extended to 31 points, but it was about to blow out.
The flood gates were wide open after the main break as the Dogs piled on seven goals to Freeling’s one.
Ryswyk showed up again and, after a bit of fancy footwork, kicked truly.
Darren Sharp then snagged his first of the game with a nice banana.
Although Freeling continued to fight valiantly, the game was long gone as Oscar Barnett, Allington, Sharp, Jaydn Goodfellow and Traynor each put a nail in the coffin to end the third quarter.
The Bulldogs were ahead by 70 points at the final change, and preparations were already in place for the first semi-final.
Freeling seemed to find some consolation in the final term, as Tomas Hahn snapped a nice one through alongside Joel Cochrane and Cockshell.
Ryswyk added a fourth for Barossa late in the quarter, while Daniel Kickel celebrated the victory with a major on the siren.
The Redlegs’ second half of the year proved costly, as they lost nine of their last 10 games to close out the season.
Barossa District will now face Nuriootpa on Sunday for a spot in the preliminary final.