Buchan has kept its hopes of a 2025 Omeo District Football Netball League finals appearance alive with an emphatic 85-point shellacking of one-time premiership favourite Bruthen in round 13 action at the Bruthen
Recreation Reserve.
With their gun recruits in the line up, the Cavemen took the field looking a bigger, stronger and fitter outfit and it showed in the way they played, dominating the contest from the first bounce.
It was the second straight loss for the Bulldogs who look a shadow of the side that won their first three matches of the season in brilliant style, establishing them as the early favourites for the flag.
There have been some personnel changes, including gun player Daniel Hayes now strutting his stuff at opposition club, Swan Reach, and key backs Richard Harrison and Will Matthews on the sidelines injured, but the vibe at Bruthen is a concern.
Players were arguing with each other, undisciplined play and their playing coach Michael Boothey receiving feedback from his own bench were features of last Saturday’s loss.
Luckily for the Bulldogs there is time to turn it around.
It was a happier vibe at Buchan with Northern Territory recruit John McCarthy setting the win up with a sensational first half in the ruck, regularly linking with Cameron Edwards and Cohen Manning, who pumped the ball forward where Justin Hunt (three goals) and Tyson Siddle always looked dangerous.
Former Wy Yung player Jai Nicholls started on the wing without an opponent and that was pretty much how he rolled all day, finishing with six goals in his best performance for the Cavemen.
Buchan led by 18 points at quarter time, lengthening the advantage to 42 at half time, things not getting any better for the Bulldogs in the second half as the Cavemen rammed home nine goals to three.
Timmothy Weller (two), Jack Brick and ruckman Micheal Stevenson were also in the thick of the action for the Cavemen, whose day was dented by injuries to James Woodgate (hamstring) and Aidan Allisey (ribs).
Veteran backman Michael O’Callaghan did a great job restricting the competition’s leading goal kicker Jirra Moffat to a solitary major for the afternoon.
Mitch Clague and Rhys Kennedy battled hard in defence for the Bulldogs, youngster
Jacoby Pedder-Giddings tried hard in the ruck, but he was taken to the cleaners by McCarthy
and Stevenson.
Ray Giddings was busy at times in the midfield, which struggled with Harley Kenner soundly beaten, while Jamie Barton was an option as a high half forward, but he didn’t hurt the Cavemen on the scoreboard.
Nathan Hayes and Chris Hood returned after lengthy absences and neither were effective, both becoming frustrated with their inability to impact the contest.
The Cavemen will need to to beat Lindenow South (home) and Swifts Creek (away) in the final two matches of the season if they are to make the finals.
And that will be only possible
if Bruthen can’t muster a win
over either Omeo Benambra (away) or Swan Reach (home), neither which looks likely in its present form.
