A rampant Wy Yung mauled Orbost Snowy Rovers in round 11 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League at Bullumwaal Road last Saturday.
The Blues went into the match without Wes Russell, Jordan Ross, Henry Vine, Cody Robertson, Ash Jonkers, Clancy Bennett and Cody Robertson – not ideal when you are tackling the side many see as the competition measuring stick.
The Tigers put the Blues to the sword early in match, dominating the first term with the breeze, leading by 31 points as the scoreless Blues struggled to get the ball deep into its forward 50.
The Blues had several opportunities to score in the second term but their radar was offer, outscored by Wy Yung by two goals to one, the half time margin 32 points.
Orbost played its best quarter of the match of the match in the third term, Hamish Nettleton getting off the lead, contributing three goals.
The Blues kicked five goals, but were still surpassed by the rampant Tigers, who kicked six of their own, Aaron Hanuera and Harry Kellow leading the way with three goals each.
Wy Yung didn’t take the foot off the pedal in the final term, kicking six goals to one, running out an impressive 68-point winner, further enhancing its credentials as premiership favourites in its quest for back-to-back flags.
With Lucknow defeated by Boisdale Briagolong, the Tigers now find themselves back on top of the table.
Mitch Dewar impressed in his second game for the Tigers for the season, kicking two goals in a best-on-ground performance, well supported by the mercurial Nathan Dennison, skipper Jock Overend, Norm Betts, Kellow and the pacy Mitch Toms.
Max Welsh was again outstanding for Orbost, his kicking in difficult conditions accurate and raking, joined in the best by recent new edition, Fletcher Morgan, Nettleton, promising young ruckman, Will Walker and defenders Sean Nippress and Angus Davis.
After the loss Orbost Snowy Rovers remain in fifth place on the ladder, two games ajar of the fourth-ranked Stratford with six games to play.
The Blues will be hoping that they can regain some key players, prior to their next game and string together some important wins in the coming weeks to keep the finals dream alive.
SWANS OUTSTANDING
Stratford proved much too good for a depleted Lindenow line up at the John Boyd Oval in Stratford, winning by 80 points.
Both sides took to field a long way from full strength, the Cats’ depth certainly tested with Cooper Shaw, Peter Harrison, Noah Rutherford, Lachy Carroll, Pat Alexander and Cassidy Stewart not suiting up and Darren Allen blowing his hamstring out early in the game, compounding their woes even further.
The Swans won the toss and elected to kick with the breeze and totally dominated the first term, bad kicking the only thing that stopped them from reaching double figures coughing up plenty of opportunities and only kicking four goals.
The Cats battled hard all day but were no match, constantly breaking down across half forward when they initiated any form of serious attack.
Stratford were far from impressive as the game resulted into a series of melees in the final term, a result of the umpires not being prepared to pay enough free kicks in a game that had an above average number of stoppages.
Will Webb and Jack Schultz (three each) always looked dangerous when the ball went forward in hurry for the Swans, while Kaian Ritchie kicked both of the Cats goals.
Burst players Lachlan Channing and Ryan Thatcher were both influential four quarter players for the Swans, getting good support from Nathan French, Alex Morcom and Cooper Dixon while Tim Hawkins was impressive at centre half forward.
Promising young ruckman Blake Cuttris had a great duel with his Cats counter-part Alexander Stanton, both players featuring in their respective sides’ better players.
Coach Brett Waddell was outstanding for his Cats, well supported by David Donchi, Justin Gould and Todd Alexander.
IMAGE: Lindenow coach Brett Waddell was outstanding despite his side’s loss to the fourth-placed Swans.
