Reigning premier Orbost Snowy Rovers mauled Stratford in the East Gippsland Football Netball League thirds elimination final at the Bairnsdale City Oval on Sunday by 87 points.
The Blues went into the match full of
confidence, having put together four impressive wins in the run to the finals, including a thrilling victory over premiership favourite
Lakes Entrance.
Their line up contained eight youngsters who have been tried at senior level this season and certainly haven’t looked out of place.
Andrew and Tye Robinson, Beau Hanratty, Angus Joiner, Rusty Morrison, Thomas Macalister were joined by Bobby Bills and Finn Donnellan, who have decided to play in the thirds finals series instead of at senior level.
In contrast the young Swans were beaten in the final round by arch rival Boisdale Briagolong by 37 points, the Bombers’ season output good enough to see them finish sixth.
Orbost came to play, peppering the goals in the first term, kicking three unanswered majors while missing a couple they would usually bank, racing to a 21-point advantage at the first change.
The competition’s leading goalkicker Angus Joiner was already looking dangerous on
his way to eight goals in another standout performance, while his sidekick, the mercurial Kruze Farley, again displayed his wizardry with two maximums.
At the other end Jacob Williams, who kicked 10 a few weeks ago at senior level against Paynesville, went goalless, with Oliver Shaw their major contributor with two, as the Blues defenders locked down.
The Swans lifted their work rate in the second quarter as the wind began to get up and favour their scoring end, matching the raging Blues for scoreboard intensity as both sides guided three goals through in difficult conditions, the lead steady at 21 points at the main break.
Orbost went to another level in the third term, led by Bills, who was in everything, his use of the ball a feature, as the Joiner show ramped up in the forward 50, the Blues kicking six goals to one, the margin blowing out to 46 points with just 20 minutes to play.
The Blues cruised to victory in the final term, Joiner taking his season total at thirds level to 56.
He was joined in the best players by the hard-running Bills, Xavier Martin, Will Craigie, Callum Harrison and Rusty Morrison.
The coaching panel led by Sean Nippress, delighted by the all round contribution.
Brock Martin, Jaret Miller, Thomas Aeschlimann, Koby Macfarlane, Hunter Appleton and Sam Dekkers all battled hard for the Swans, who have been steady improvers all season under Luke Nicholls, but would have been disappointed by the disappointing season finish.
Orbost Snowy Rovers’ focus quickly turns to this week’s opponent, Lindenow, who struggled in its match last Saturday and will need to be at its best to tackle the focused and in-form Blues.
