| EAST GIPPSLAND NEWSPAPERS 2 ODFNL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2024 Back-to-back flags in reach Reigning premier Swifts Creek is off to the big dance, blowing away Lindenow South in the final term to keep the dream of back-to-back Omeo District football flags alive. A record crowd piled into the Bruthen Recreation Reserve for the preliminary final with the right to challenge short-priced favourite, Omeo Benambra, the prize for the winner. Little separated the two sides for three quarters of the match in a low-scoring encounter played in hot conditions and a tricky breeze. With the game on the line in the final term it was the Demons who had more run, the Swampies looking sore and tired after torrid matches in consecutive weeks. The hero in the final term was Beau Hack, the 2024 league best and fairest, who kicked three goals in a match-winning effort in the final 25 minutes. The effort was what you would expect from the a player of that ilk, but after a dirty first half where you could count his possession on one hand, his ability to work his way back into the game was the difference between the two sides. The Demons led by three points at the final change and the Swampies weren't without opportunities in the final 25 minutes, but they could only add a solitary behind as Swifts Creek kicked five unanswered goals to win by 33 points. Beau Hack was heavily tagged by Daniel Howe for the afternoon, Howe playing in a midfield role after getting the job closer to goal last week on ex AFL-player Ryan Harwood. His goal early in the final term gave the Demons some breathing space, but the Swampies weren't done, Jordan Hack setting Mel Irish up but he could only manage a point. Jordan Hack was a target up forward for the Swampies, taking plenty of marks, but only converting one goal. Demons coach Conor Harvey (two goals) had an opportunity shortly after to put the first nail in the coffin after receiving from Robbie Crellin, but he also missed. Crellin had an outstanding game as a lead up forward, but often marked too far from goal to make an impression on the scoreboard. He proved too good for Aaron Edwards and Jacob Petrac. Jamie Barton kicked his third shortly after, a sensational snap that very few on the ground could have got through, but it's what onlookers have become accustomed to from the left footed wizard. Beau Hack then kicked his second and he let the crowd and his opponent know that he was back in town and victory was close. If you thought that celebration was exuberant, they just got bigger and better, with his third goal he even asked the crowd why they were so quiet. Maybe that had something to do with the large Bruthen contingent believing they had snared his signature in the pre-season. The Swampies were done, their bench resembling the walking wounded, with coach Sam Howden on crutches after doing his knee in the first term. Jordan Hack and Matt Baylis were hobbling around while Petrac was feeling the effects of going in under done. He came into the side to replace ruckman Brad Pedder who didn't come up. To cap off a great day for the Demons their youngest player, Jack Reid, kicked the final goal after running 45 metres and taking one bounce. The first quarter was a close affair with both sides kicking a goal as the quality of play struggled to reach any great heights. With Pedder out, Warren Martin played in the ruck for Lindenow South and his effort on a tough opponent in Andrew Sandy were commendable, with Martin at least sharing honours on the day. Martin was joined at most centre bounces by Howe, Will O'Keefe and the hard running Nathan Pollard, while Sandy was supported by veteran Brodie Cameron, Beau Hack and the smooth moving Ben Commins. Most of the first quarter was played between the arcs with Crellin looking like he had kicked the first goal, only for the goal umpire to indicate it was touched. Pollard and Sherritt were driving the ball forward for the Swampies, while Commins, Richard Crabtree and Nathan Hayes were busy for the Demons. Harvey kicked the first of the afternoon after outmuscling Alfred Solomon. Jordan Hack was looking dangerous and kept Tom King on his toes, but his kicking was letting him down. Pollard levelled the scores as time on beckoned. He ran himself ragged over four quarters, finishing the match exhausted. The game went up in intensity in the second term as the Demons kicked three goals with the breeze with the Swampies able to add just one, the first of the term. Cory Pescod kicked truly after marking, the result of a downfield by Sandy which the umpire paid despite not even seeing it. Sandy was fired up, evident by the clotheslining of team mate, Jay Robbie, which had the crowd up in arms, before they realised they were on the same side. The back end of the term belonged to the Demons, who obviously had read what was written on the back of the team board: tackle, pressure, work hard forward and work even harder back. Enter Barton, who put his spell on the match in just three minutes, while Beau Hack was busy arguing with the opposition runner. He kicked a great long goal after an outstanding tackle on Solomon, before kicking a trademark Barton goal from close range before nearly adding a miracle snap to his tally. The game was becoming untidy as the downfields began to add up, Harvey capalitising with his second as the quarter came to a close, his side 13-point leaders at the long break. Beau Hack went forward in the third term which saw Robbie head into the centre square, but he was keen to keep his distance from Sandy, Russell White his direct opponent. If they were to win the match the Swampies needed to maximise their opportunities in the third term and they definitely came out with a purpose. Pollard and Sherritt got plenty of the ball early, Shane Thorpe and Irish unable to convert kickable chances. Jordan Hack finally got on the board, finishing off a Sherritt set up play, the Swampies were starting to look the goods. Both sides' last line of defences were being kept busy as Crabtree and Mark Cooper began to dominate for Swifts Creek, trying to nullify the great work of Pollard and Sherritt. The Swampies were left to rue the five points they kicked in the term as they drew within three points, as close as the would get. Best players for the Demons were Crellin, Crabtree, Hayes, Sandy, Barton and the match winner Beau Hack. While for the Swampies it was Pollard, Sherritt, Martin, Mitch Neal, Thorpe and Solomon. FINAL SCORES Swifts Creek 1.2 4.4 4.5 9.6 (60) Lindenow South 1.2 2.3 3.8 3.9 (27) GOALS – Swifts Creek: J. Barton, B. Hack 3; C. Harvey 2; N. Hayes. Lindenow South: J. Hack, C. Pescod, N. Pollard. BEST – Swifts Creek: N. Hayes, R. Crabtree, A. Sandy, B. Hack, B. Commins, R. Crellin. Lindenow South: M. Neal, G. Sherritt, N. Pollard, A. Solomon, S. Thorpe, R. White. Swifts Creek’s Robbie Crellin hunts down Lindenow South’s Aaron Edwards during the Demons’ comfortable Omeo District preliminary final win over the Swampies at Bruthen last Saturday. Swifts Creek now meets Omeo Benambra in a grand final rematch this Saturday at Swan Reach. HAVE FUN & GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS IN 2024! Bairnsdale Lakes Entrance 1300 724 460 solahartbairnsdale.com.au START KICKING GOALS WITH A NEW SOLAR SYSTEM! 305 ESPLANADE, LAKES ENTRANCE • 5155 2244 • LAKESAUTOPARTS.COM.AU PROUDLY LOCAL SPORT
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