Orbost Snowy Rovers continued its mid-season form surge with an impressive 87-point win over Paynesville in round 10 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League at AJ Freeman Reserve.
It was the second consecutive victory for the Blues, who sit in fourth place on the ladder, four points and a considerable 34 percentage points ahead of arch-rival Lakes Entrance in fifth.
In the final six rounds of the season, Orbost will play home games against Boisdale Briagolong, Wy Yung and Lucknow, alongside away trips to Stratford, Lindenow, and Lakes Entrance. The August 8 clash against the Seagulls at Lakeside Oval could well decide both sides’ finals fate, but there is plenty of football to be played before then.
The Blues finally welcomed back Byron Vickery after foot surgery. His return, alongside the recent inclusion of Max Welsh, provides huge mid-season boosts for Orbost Snowy. Both are smart ball-users who excel in traffic, constantly bringing their teammates into the contest.
The Blues dominated the opening term, but inaccurate kicking kept the Gulls within 12 points at quarter time.
However, with Tom Smith and Kieran Vickery (four goals each) proving highly effective in the forward 50 during the second term, Orbost rammed home eight unanswered goals. The visitors mixed ruthless defence with creative forward entries to keep the home side scoreless, blowing the lead out to 64 points by the long break.
The Gulls battled hard in the second half, creating more inside 50s with sharper ball movement and retaining possession wherever possible, but they were still outscored six goals to three by a well-drilled Blues outfit. Errant goalkicking from the visitors ultimately kept the final margin under triple figures.
Midfielders Gus Rogers and Bobby Bills kicked two goals each for the visitors, while one of the forgotten men of local football — three-time Bruthen premiership star Craig Taylor — booted three goals for the Gulls. Taylor, who last played for Paynesville in 2016, was making just his second appearance since the 2019 Omeo District Football Netball League grand final.
The hard-running Bills was clearly best on ground in his most productive match of the season. Sean Nippress, Kieran Vickery, Thomas Smith, Gus Rogers and the versatile Jordan Ross also stood out in the victory.
Mitchell Willmott, Boris Bryant, Harry Gibbs, Alex Saunders, Mark Cooper and Andrew Quin all enjoyed good patches for Paynesville in a match where the momentum remained firmly with the visitors.
It wasn’t a total day of doom and gloom for the Gulls, with their reserves breaking through for their second win in three weeks to lift club morale.
The EGFNL will enjoy a competition bye this weekend. Orbost Snowy Rovers will return on July 11 for a massive home fixture at Lochiel Park against premiership favourites Boisdale Briagolong, while Paynesville travels to Boyd Reserve to face Stratford, hoping to replicate its drought-breaking round four win.
