Lucknow secured its second win in three weeks and fourth for the season after outclassing Stratford at home last Saturday in round 10 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League.
Even the inclusion of former Sale City excitement machine Germaine Otieno couldn’t spark the Swans, who slumped to their seventh consecutive defeat.
With coach Nathan Pollard currently sidelined with a broken hand, and experienced stars Jarryd Clohessy, Tim Hawkins, Lachlan Channing, Jack Bacon and the French brothers missing from the lineup, it is shaping up to be a tough end to the season for the proud Swans.
The writing was on the wall early. The home side dominated inside 50s in the opening term, kicking six goals to two, while missing a couple of extra opportunities they probably should have slotted.
Nick Mooney kicked five goals for the winners, taking his season tally to 34.
This puts him two ahead of Boisdale Briagolong skipper Jimmy Reeves, who has struck a purple patch since returning from a mid-season injury.
Damian Hodder was lively and back to his best, slotting four majors, as did the electrifying Corey Pescod.
The margin blew out to 38 points at half time as a combination of youth and experience constantly drove the ball forward for the Magpies. Link McKenna, Logan Croucher and Ash Smith were prolific at the feet of giant ruckman Scott Joustra.
Wins have been few and far between this year for the Magpies — runners-up on grand final day in the previous two seasons — but they never gave the Swans a sniff in the second half, booting seven goals to two in a clinical performance.
Rodney O’Keefe and Ben Dekkers kicked two goals each for Stratford, but they were starved of opportunities by the hardworking Lucknow midfielders and half-backs.
Croucher, McKenna, Stephen Bertino, Hodder, Smith and Joustra were pivotal in the victory. Meanwhile, Zane Perkins, Cooper Dixon, Roydon Fulton, Harrison Langford, Jack Ronalds and O’Keefe offered solid resistance for a wounded Swans outfit.
EGFNL sides will enjoy a well-earned competition bye this weekend, with play resuming on Saturday, July 11.
Lucknow will renew its cross-town rivalry when it heads to Bullumwaal Road to take on Wy Yung, while Stratford will hope to end its horror losing streak when it welcomes Paynesville to Boyd Reserve.
The Gulls will head down the highway with a touch of confidence, knowing the Swans were the side they defeated in round four to break one of local football’s longest droughts.
