The giant-killing Orbost Snowy Rovers under 13 side are through to the 2025 East Gippsland Junior Football Association grand final after scoring an upset win over arch rival Lakes Entrance in the preliminary final last week.
The sides had played twice for the season prior, the Seagulls winning by 30 and 18 points, but that didn’t deter the Orbost youngsters, who never took a backward step, taking the contest right up to the side that only lost one match in the home and the away season.
A late goal gave Orbost a goal advantage at quarter time, which they maintained at the long break, as both sides saw plenty of the football, with the game mainly played between the arcs.
Lakes Entrance played its best football of the match in the premiership quarter, starting the third term in a blaze of glory, as it kicked three goals to one, opening up an eight-point advantage at the final break.
But the gallant and determined Blues weren’t done, thrilling the crowd with a final quarter three-goal-to-one onslaught to seize victory by five points in a thrilling finale.
Hunter Greaves and Hugh Scott both kicked two goals for Orbost, and among the best players were Isabella-Rose Burt, Samson Clementine, Jasper Anderson, Jemma Martin, Angus Seal and Chad Rogers, but there were plenty of others who could have been included.
Cooper Kennedy and Sunny Eiseman both kicked two goals for Lakes Entrance and were joined in the best by Keanu Brown, Reide Ymer, Patrick McGinty and Oliver Jenkins.
The under 15s suffered just their second defeat of the season, when they went down to Wy Yung in the qualifying final, but they quickly bounced back, trouncing Lindenow by 147 points, the Cats failing to kick a goal.
Evan Pompei kicked an impressive five goals, with Kye Piper, Jeremy Rotheram and Billy Warfe, all rising to the occasion slotting four each.
Good players were plentiful but the coaching panel settled on Archer Connally, Rotheram, Pompei, Warfe, Lachlan Ymer and Clarke.
Named in the better players for the Cats were William Davidson, Charlie Crane, Jack Kerslake, Des Hine, Kane Fletcher and Jack Sheridan.
All roads will lead to Bairnsdale City Oval on Sunday for grand final day.
Orbost Snowy Rovers will go in as underdogs against Wy Yung, who have only tasted defeat twice for the season, compared to the Blues’ five, but both matches between the combatants this season were classic encounters.
Wy Yung got the points in both matches, by one point in round five, and four points in round 12, but Blues coach, Tommy Smith will go in with a similar approach to the preliminary final, you only have to beat your opponent once to win a premiership.
In the under 15s Wy Yung will go in with an air of confidence, holding a two to one advantage thus far, but the Lakes Entrance will be buoyed by the fact that they have got the job done.
If they can maintain the level they achieved last week, they could go home with the premiership cup.
The day will kick off with a series of under 11 exhibition matches from 9.40am, with the under 13 grand final from 12.30pm, followed by the under 15s at 2.30pm.
