Stratford has continued its sensational start to the 2025 East Gippsland Football Netball season, with its third straight defeat of a finals contender, when it was an impressive 53-point winner over Orbost Snowy Rovers at Boyd Recreation Reserve last Saturday.
The Swans included two former Omeo and District Football Netball League players for the clash, former premiership star, Jordan Robertson, who tasted premiership glory last season at Omeo-Benambra and Daniel Howe, a former premiership player at Lindenow South, with Stratford coach, Nathan Pollard.
The Blues travelled light on key personnel, with Wes Russell, Brayden Fenner, Jordan Ross, Angus Davis, Jack Herbert, Ash Jonkers and Tommy Smith all missing, with youngsters Rusty Morrison, Tom Macalister and Beau Hanratty debuting.
Again all were at sea on the big ground, the Swans kicked seven goals to one in the first half, the second quarter particularly disappointing from a Blues perspective, held scoreless.
They came out after half time more determined and smartening, outscoring the Swans in the third term, by four goals to three, but they were still too far back at three quarter time, trailing by 34 points.
With spots in the Stratford line up likely to get competitive, they kept their focus, finishing the game strongly with four final term majors.
Giant ruckman, Floyd Fulton was a match winner for the Swans, proving too good for Will Walker, who didn’t have Russell or Jordan Ross to mix it up.
Fulton gave outstanding service to match winner, Lachlan Channing, Ryan Thatcher, Robertson, the French brothers and clever left footer Jack Rietschel.
“Ducka” O’Keefe turned the clock back a few years for the Swans, back to his elusive best booting four goals, while Thatcher kicked three and the hard running Channing and Bacon chipped in with a couple each.
Orbost was best served by rangy left
footer, Max Welsh, Max Herbert, Kieran Vickery, Gus Rogers, Braeden Ross and competitive bull, Charles Mein.
Best for the Swans were Fulton, Channing, Thatcher, O’Keefe, Robertson and Jack Rietschel.
Orbost Snowy Rovers will enjoy a bye this week before making the trek to Bairnsdale to do battle with Lucknow in round six on May 24.
