Unbeaten. Unstoppable.
Bruthen completed the perfect Omeo District senior football season last Saturday, defeating back-to-back reigning premier Omeo Benambra by 61 points.
The Bulldogs were a class above: more skilful, more poised, more disciplined and more lethal.
By half time they had powered to a 35-point lead, and a goal in the opening minute of the third term put the result beyond doubt.
It was a complete team performance and just reward for first-year co-coaches Matt Arnold and Jan Cabaybay, who emphasised compiling a playing list focused not just on talent, but on bringing in good people who would play for each other.
That was the tale of the decider — the victorious team didn’t rely on one particular standout; everyone played their role.
The Bulldogs played a smart brand of football that started with team defence. Their back six were superb, the midfielders worked back in support and when they got the ball in hand, they were measured in rebounding before hitting the scoring zone quickly and accurately to overwhelm the Ranges’ defence.
The best-on-ground trophy could have gone to any number of players.
Rebounding defender Will Matthews had the ball on a string and rarely made a mistake. Fellow defenders Nat Griffiths, Rhys Kennedy and Dylan Doecke beat their opponents, made smart decisions and constantly set up attacking chains.
Livewire Brendan Flinn kicked two goals, and could have had six, proving a constant threat forward of centre with his blistering pace and strong leading.
Classy veteran Dylan Somerville used the ball superbly, Nick Ward didn’t waste a disposal, Hamish Young and Lukas Lakay controlled the ruck and worked tirelessly around the ground, while the forward line delivered at key moments.
Captain Richie Harrison booted a last-quarter goal to prompt a spirited celebration, league leading goalkicker Jirra Moffatt drilled three, while Flinn, Jake Keown and Ethan Hubbard finished with two apiece. Singles were added by Cabaybay and evergreen Ray Giddings.
Five-time league best and fairest winner Harley Kenner also kicked three first-half goals before taking home the best-afield trophy to add to his burgeoning cabinet. He was a constant engine of attack, using his line-breaking runs, penetrating kicking and clean ball use to great effect. His booming right boot helped set up the opening goal of the third quarter for Keown, effectively sealing victory.
At the other end, Omeo effectively had only one avenue to goal. Veteran Cody Graske kicked all four of the Ranges’ majors, while early inaccuracy plagued the side when the heat was on.
Omeo may have come into the match with back-to-back premierships under its belt, but the side was vastly different from the 2025 premiership-winning outfit. Of that team, only Graske, Brendan Betts, Campbell AhSam, Hudson Collins, Aiden Hayward, Travis Balmer, Brent Hartnell, Ross Ansaldi, Tyler Betts and Trent Heesom returned, leaving 10 new faces in the line-up. Coupled with continuity issues throughout the season, the Ranges lacked their usual synergy.
Bruthen, on the other hand, were settled, sharp and driven to succeed.
THE BREAKDOWN
Omeo Benambra opened the scoring at the two-minute mark when Graske snapped a behind after a dashing run on the wing from Collins. The smart Ansaldi had a chance to give the Ranges the first major soon after, but his snap missed to the near side.
Bruthen’s first score came at the five-minute mark when, after a strong build-up involving Flinn and Kenner, Moffatt’s set shot was touched on the goal line. Moffatt nailed his next opportunity two minutes later after fancy footwork from Ward found the key forward unopposed 30m out.
The Bulldogs had drawn first blood and settled quickly into their rhythm. Moffatt had a third shot under pressure soon after but drifted wayward.
At the other end, the Ranges levelled the scores when a dashing Tarquin Crosby run ended with Graske soccering a goal at the 10-minute mark. It was as close as Omeo Benambra would get for the remainder of the contest.
Kenner responded for Bruthen with a brilliant checkside on the run at the 15-minute mark, before Cabaybay extended the lead to 12 ticking into time-on after being tackled without the ball at the top of the goal square by Heesom. By this stage, the Bulldogs had made it clear they were in no rush, happy to possess the ball and cut the Ranges up through composed ball movement.
Brandon Betts had a chance to kick Omeo’s second after the quarter-time siren from outside the boundary beyond 50m, but his attempt fell short, leaving his side trailing by 11 at the break.
Graske was again at the forefront of Omeo’s attack early in the second term, scoring a touched behind after a long snap. Kenner responded by kicking his second following a push-in-the-back free kick at the three-minute mark as the Bulldogs began to roll.
Kenner had Bruthen’s next two shots on goal — one behind, and another set shot that fell short, resulting in an Ethan Hubbard free kick and goal. In between, Graske missed a running shot
for the Ranges.
By the 10-minute mark, Bruthen led by 21 points. Kenner extended the margin to 27 after following up his own ruck work on the wing to run onto a swift Moffatt handball.
Moffatt was rewarded for his hard work deep in attack when a long rebounding kick from Flinn and a quick left boot from Ward found him leading out. Moffatt finished off the good work from a tight angle to give the Bulldogs a 33-point advantage approaching time-on. Bruthen added two further behinds to complete a four-goal-to-zero quarter.
Omeo had its chances, but was constantly under pressure moving forward and repeatedly turned the ball over on the edge of its 50m arc. Outside of Graske and Ansaldi, the Ranges struggled to pose a consistent threat. Bruthen, by contrast, moved the ball with precision and scored from
multiple avenues.
That depth showed immediately in the third quarter when Kennedy and Kenner combined to find a leading Keown. Moffatt goaled from the resulting centre bounce, marking unopposed from a Flinn set shot that fell short. Flinn then nailed a set shot for the Bulldogs’ third unanswered goal of the term, pushing the lead out to 53.
Keown provided a highlight at the 15-minute mark, kicking a goal via a mid-air karate kick at the back of a goal-square contest to extend the
lead to 60 points.
A downfield free kick gifted Graske and Omeo their second goal on the stroke of time-on — the Ranges’ first major since the 10-minute mark of the opening quarter. Flinn had the final say in the term with another set shot as the Bulldogs cruised to a 59-point lead at the final break.
Bruthen captain Richie Harrison kept the momentum going, scoring just 15 seconds into the final term. A downfield free kick gifted
Hubbard his second before Graske kicked his third for the Ranges.
The sting went out of the contest after the 10-minute mark of the final term. Graske kicked his fourth at the 17-minute mark — the final goal of the decider.
The Bulldogs were far superior across the board: faster, smoother, smarter, and more skilful. Aiden Hayward, Crosby, Collins, and Jai Hayward battled hard for the Ranges, but the side lacked the depth to keep pace with the undefeated champions.
FINAL SCORE
Bruthen 3.3 7.6 12.9 14.12 (96)
Omeo Benambra 1.4 1.7 2.9 4.11 (35)
GOALS – Bruthen: H. Kenner 3; J. Moffatt 3; B. Flinn 2; E. Hubbard 2; J. Keown 2; J. Cababay 1; R. Harrison 1. Omeo Benambra: C. Graske 4.
BEST – Bruthen: Wil Matthews, Harley Kenner, Dylan Somerville, Brenden Flinn, Dylan Doecke, Nat Griffiths. Omeo Benambra: Aiden Hayward, Tarquin Crosby, Cody Graske, Hudson Collins, Jai Hayward, Campbell Ahsam.
premiership cup.
