The showdown we have all been waiting for will take place this Saturday when the Omeo and District Football League’s two unbeaten sides, Omeo Benambra and Lindenow South go head-to-head at Omeo Recreation Reserve.
The Alpine Ranges survived their biggest challenge last weekend, defeating the gallant Bulldog outfit by 33 points at the Bruthen Recreation Reserve.
Omeo Benambra coach Josh Piper and key off season signing James Gibbs suited up and both were in the thick of the action, finishing with three goals each.
Clever onballer Ross Ansaldi also played his first match for the season, not missing a beat in a best-on-ground performance.
The Ranges kept the Bulldogs at arm’s length for most of the day, converting a 19-point half time lead into another victory as they strive to complete the first round of home and away matches unbeaten.
Exciting young forward Harry Warfe was again to the fore kicking five goals to take his season’s total to 29, the Bulldogs trying a mixture of opponents on the dynamo throughout the afternoon.
Prolific league best and fairest Harley Kenner was productive up forward for the Bulldogs, maximising his chances with four great goals.
Joining Gibbs and Ansaldi in the best were the consistent Todd Redenbach, former coach Cody Graske, Daniel Jones, giant ruckman Campbell Ahsam and former Stratford star, Jordan Robertson, who adds plenty of run and carry to the Ranges.
The Bulldogs continue to grow and evolve as a team. Time will tell if they can challenge Omeo Benambra and Lindenow South for a spot in the grand final. For now, they are clearly the third best team.
They were well served by players they have snared in recent seasons from East Gippsland Football Netball League clubs in Brodie Matthews, Jan Cabaybay and Matt Arnold, who are combining well with returning players such as Nigel Pearce and established fixtures like Darcy Spong, Kenner and Will Matthews.
Reigning premier Swifts Creek scored its first win of the season, triumphing at home over Swan Reach in a high-scoring encounter, the sides kicking 38 goals between them.
The Demons played their best football in the first half as the match reverted to a shootout.
They led by 44 points at half time and looked set for a huge win, but to its credit the improving Swan Reach unit stuck to the task at hand, basically matching Swift Creek in the second half to go down by 59 points.
The Demon’s numbers are gradually returning and although the quality of the players that took the field for that golden day in 2023 aren’t there, they are now on the board and sitting in fourth position on the table.
Coach Conor Harvey (nine goals), Jamie Barton (four goals) and Andrew Sandy (three) were all formidable in the forward 50 as they feasted on the work of Richard Crabtree, Ben Commins the explosive Beau Hack, youngster Riley McCole and James Turner.
The free-flowing nature of the contest certainly suited Swans spearhead Max Solomon, who returned to his early 2023 form, booting eight goals, well assisted by Kaian Ritchie who helped himself to three.
Other good players for Swan Reach were Dylan Bryant, Michael Hayes, veteran ruckman Michael Stephenson, Justin Smith and the versatile Bronson Ritchie.
Buchan kicked its only two goals of the match in the second term as the Swampies slotted 27 for the day to run out 167-point victors at home.
The Hacks were unstoppable up forward, Jordan (eight) and Jesse (five) accurately converting the outstanding teamwork of the Swampies, who were bolstered by the return of premiership ruckman Brad Pedder for the first time since 2022.
Jordan Hack has now kicked 22 goals for the season and looks the main danger to Warfe in goalkicking award.
Jamie Donnelly (four) and Noel Jansz (three) were the small forward options in the forward 50, the latter turning back the clock and showing he is still more than capable of holding his own.
Other Swampies to impress were Shane Thorpe and Warren Martin, who gets better with every outing after not playing much football in recent times.
Michael Stevenson, Jake Reynolds, Christopher Donchi, Tyson Siddle, Cohen Manning and Angus Joiner all toiled hard for the undermanned Cavemen.
NETBALL
There were no major shocks in “A” grade netball with the unbeaten Swan Reach asserting its dominance over Swifts Creek early and ramming the advantage home late to win by 64 goals.
The dynamic Tegan Benedetti led the way for the Swans, well supported by Jordy Bockmann and Lily-Rose Archbold.
The Demons continue to get good service out of Taylah-Jean Hardisty, Lily Mccole and Evie Walker.
Third placed Bruthen showed plenty of fight against second placed Omeo Benambra before the Alpines Ranges upped the tempo in the second half, winning convincingly by 24 goals.
The match of the round and the closest result was at South where the Swampies consolidated fourth place on the ladder with a hard fought 11-goal victory over Buchan.
THIS WEEK
All eyes will be at the top of the mountain where it will be decided who the best side in the competition is.
On paper very little separates South and Omeo, the combatants both capable of kicking a big score on their day.
These matches are usually decided by available players on the day with the Swampies possibly having the advantage in that department being close to full strength most weeks.
If Gibbs and Ansaldi suit up again this week, with Piper and, if former AFL star Ryan Harwood happens to reappear, the teams become well matched very quickly.
Warfe is sure to cause plenty of headaches, with wily Swampies defender, Daniel Howe a possible opponent or could it be a job for another young gun, Griffin Sherritt.
Swan Reach will host Bruthen and although they continue to show fight and improvement, you would expect the Swans to be overrun by the Bulldogs who will be keen to return to the winners’ list.
Buchan is at home to Swifts Creek, the Cavemen looking to put up a better account of themselves while the Demons will be looking to build on victory one and get an early hold on fourth spot.
