Beechworth wins by five goals away to Tallangatta, key players on both sides injured

The Bushrangers co-coach, playing only his second game back after missing five with a back injury, had two goals by quarter-time and saw plenty of the footy at Rowen Park.

But shortly after booting his fourth, towards the end of the final term, he felt his quad in the process of taking a mark.

Carey went straight to the bench and Beechworth will hope he makes a quick recovery ahead of next weekend's blockbuster against Yackandandah.

This victory, by 16.14 (110) to 12.8 (80), secured the Bushrangers a top-three finish and the double chance.

Lachlan Armstrong kicked five goals, taking him past 50 for the season, while Tallangatta captain Luke Fraser also bagged five.

The sides went into the quarter-time huddle level having both kicked 4.2 in an entertaining start to the game.

Carey and Connor Thornton had Beechworth's noses in front early but Fraser replied with a quickfire double before the sides traded goals.

Tallangatta led briefly at the start of the second when a 50-metre penalty gave BJ Maddock a gift right in front but the Bushies led by 11 points at the main break with Armstrong slotting three of the next five goals.

The visitors, despite missing at least half a dozen of their best 22, showed their class after half-time and took control.

Five unanswered goals from Armstrong, Dylan Pritchard, Shaun Wilhelm, Thornton and Connor Stone effectively put the game beyond the Hoppers whose prospects were hurt by a groin injury which kept Scott Spencer out of the ruck for long spells.

Tallangatta outscored Beechworth by four goals to two in the last quarter but the damage had already been done.

"We haven't won at Tallangatta for a long time, they've always challenged us down here no matter where both sides are on the ladder so it was pleasing to fight it out and play a four-quarter effort and get over the line against a good side," Carey said.

"Credit to Tallangatta, they continued to put pressure on us all day but credit to our blokes to turn the tide.

"We do play that third quarter really well.

"I don't know what it is but we come out after half-time and really put the foot down in that third quarter and nothing changed this week.

"It's pleasing that we can respond when we are challenged - and we are a few blokes down too so it was good the blokes who came in played their role and got the job done."

Tallangatta coach Tim Kennedy admitted the Hoppers were beaten by the better side.

"They had a little bit more depth through the midfield and were able to get on top in the third quarter," Kennedy said.

"They kicked five unanswered goals and that became a very handy lead that we weren't going to be able to rein in.

"I thought we played well to be able to bounce back in the last and finish off really well but they looked more dangerous going forward and hurt us on the turnover.

"With the play we had, we should have been much closer at half-time.

"To be two goals down and dominate general play, it made it hard because we didn't capitalise on our dominance around the ground.

"They were just much more efficient and we had some poor skill errors which hurt us at times."

Brent Ryan, Mitch Anderson and Tristan Stead will return for Beechworth next weekend but the Bushrangers will have to wait and see how Carey pulls up after a mixed day for the co-coach.

"I had 10 weeks off with the back and now I've done a quad," Carey said.

"It's just old age, I probably shouldn't be playing, but it'll be fine.

"We'll bounce back, we'll recover well, all of us, and hopefully we're all available for selection next week.

"Last year we were probably four or five short but this year we've got plenty of blokes to put their hand up and come in and play their roles.

"That's probably the most pleasing part."

"I love being back out there playing footy," he added.

"I've missed it so to get out there with the boys and contribute on the footy field, there's nothing better.

"It's very hard coaching from the sidelines so it was pleasing to get on the end of a few and that's credit to the blokes further up the ground; they used the footy really well and lowered their eyes with their forward entries."

Kennedy revealed how luck deserted the Hoppers at a crucial stage of the game.

"We lost two ruckmen within five minutes," Kennedy said.

"We lost Sam Cannon and Scott (Spencer) within a five-minute block.

"One did a groin, one did an ankle and it never helps when that happens.

"That's when they got on top, we couldn't match them in that little time period.

"It's the hardest position to replace.

"Brodee Windham did a great job, stepping in there, but he's massively under-sized when he's coming up against Jai Middleton who must be 6ft 5in.

"He toiled on really well and Scott got back in the ruck and toiled on through injury, which helped us in the last quarter.

"That's bad luck and it's probably a bit of a product of the state of the ground which has hurt us, with it being so soft.

"That's probably the reason why we've had those injuries."

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