Orbost Snowy Rovers have come crashing back to earth with a thud after being outclassed by Wy Yung in round two of the East Gippsland Football Netball League last Saturday to the tune of 53 points at
Bullumwaal Road.
They took the field full of confidence after obliterating Paynesville in round one by 199 points to occupy top spot on the ladder, with big things expected on that performance in 2025 and off the back of an active
recruiting window.
The Blues were restricted to just solitary goal efforts in the first two quarters, as the Tigers kicked seven to lead by 32 points at half time.
Orbost managed more scoreboard pressure in the second half when the pressure went out of the game, but they were still outscored and outplayed by the rampant Wy Yung in
all four quarters.
It was the Tigers’ first out for the season, and they hit the ground running after a long pre-season build-up under new coach, Brodie Anderson (two goals).
New recruits Jett Murphy, Tim Daniel, Lachlan O’Connor and Max Rowe all impressed in their first matches for the club.
Normie Betts, who has been used in a variety of positions over the past few years, played mostly forward and finished with four goals in an impressive display, with the mercurial Nathan Dennison and co-captain, Harry Kellow also contributed two goals for the Tigers.
Mitch Fenner was again lively up forward for the Blues, kicking two goals.
Anderson was delighted to bank the valuable four points, but mindful that both sides have considerable improvement in them.
“Both sides made plenty of skill errors, it was good first up, hit out to learn from going forward,” Anderson said.
Best players for the Tigers were Betts,
Daniel, Alex Halabut, Dennison, Murphy and inspirational co-captain Jock Overend.
While the Blues got good service from hard working defensive players, Curtley Nettleton, Kieran Vickery and Sean Nippress, young gun Bobby Bills, veteran ruckman, Wesley Russell and hard nosed midfielder,
Charles Mein.
Orbost will host Lindenow this Saturday in an interesting match, the Cats look to be a genuine improver in season 2025, and if the Blues are to be a finals contender in September, these are the games they can ill afford to lose early in the season.
