Orbost Snowy Rovers have began the East Gippsland Football Netball League season in sensational fashion, defeating a struggling Paynesville by 199 points at Lochiel Park last Saturday.
After the opening round of matches, the Blues sit on top of the competition ladder for the first time since 2008.
High profile recruits, Kieran Vickery and Charlie Mein both impressed, the former playing for the club for the first time since 2018, his class and poise a welcome addition to the Blues line-up.
The hard nosed Mein was busy through the middle of the ground against his old side, working in combination with Ash Jonkers, they certainly give Orbost a hard edge, with neither keen to take a backward step.
The Blues have kept the legs ticking over the off season and it showed as they played with maximum cohesion right from the first bounce, kicking 10 goals in an entertaining first quarter.
It wasn’t all one way traffic, with the Gulls slotting three of their own as they played with the enthusiasm that a six month break brings.
Paynesville included a number of developing youngsters who will certainly benefit from the experience and improve as the season progresses.
Unfortunately they only added one more major for the day in the final term, as the rampant Blues made a statement that they are more than capable of being in the mix in 2025, if they can suit up with a line-up similar to Saturday’s each and every week.
But as everyone is aware, luck and injuries play a huge role in community football at this level.
The Orbost line-up contained all three Fenner brothers, Lachie, Mitch and Brayden, with Lachie and Hamish Nettleton leading the way up forward with six goals each.
Such was the dominance of the Blues midfield, who got the silver service from Wes Russell and Will Walker, Orbost was able to kick 10 goals in three of the four quarters.
The Gulls battled hard and showed plenty of endeavour led by established players Brayden Radford, Ben McKinnon, Harry Gibbs, Joshua Carroll and Mitchell Willmott, stemming the tide in the second term, restricting Orbost to just three goals, but were unable to capitalise at the other end, adding just a point themselves.
In the second half with a scary amount of inside 50s, many coming off the boot of quality kicks like Max Welsh and Vickery, the Blues were able to ram the advantage home.
Russell (four goals), Gus Rogers (three), while Mein, Bobby Bills, Mitch Fenner, and Braeden Ross all slotted two goals.
Bills is an exciting youngster who continues to impress, as did another developing player, Finn Donnellan, who made his senior debut after impressing the coaching panel in the pre-season.
There were plenty of outstanding contributors for Orbost led by Jordan Ross, Vickery, Russell, Mein, Smith and Braeden Ross.
Paynesville’s day soured further when Ty Fahey was suspended for one week for umpire abuse.
Orbost Snowy Rovers next game will be on April 26 against the Wy Yung Tigers at Bullumwaal Road, while Paynesville host Lucknow on the same day at AJ Freeman Reserve.
