Orbost Snowy Rovers have snuck into the East Gippsland Football Netball League finals after comfortably accounting for Lucknow in the final round of the season at Lochiel Park last Saturday.
The Blues began the day in fifth place, trailing Lakes Entrance by just under six percent, with both sides tied on eight wins.
While Orbost hoped Wy Yung would defeat Lakes Entrance, the Seagulls held off the Tigers at Bullumwaal Road. That left the final spot to be decided by percentage, with the Blues’ 74-point win over the Magpies enough to see them sneak into fourth place by 0.43 per cent.
Orbost Snowy Rovers co-coach Brett Morrison was delighted to lock in a finals berth after a tense finish to the home and away season.
“We obviously were hoping for Wy Yung to win, but either way we thought it would be a close game, so Lakes’ percentage wouldn’t change much, which left it up to us to accumulate enough to overtake them,” Morrison said.
“We had a figure in our head and it was in the ballpark. It’s great to be playing finals for the second consecutive year.”
The Blues held a 13-point advantage at quarter time before taking complete control in the second term. Leading by 33 points at the main break, co-coaches Morrison and Clancy Bennett urged their side to maintain the intensity. A 10-goal-to-four second half sealed the result and capped off a hard-fought campaign.
In a boost for the Blues, Wes Russell made his return to the side for his third match of the season and his first in eight weeks. The key forward got through unscathed and contributed three goals.
Tommy Smith, Bobby Bills and Gus Rogers also booted three goals each, while Charlie Mein slotted two in his most productive outing since returning from a knee reconstruction in round 12.
Bills was outstanding for Orbost, supported strongly by Jordan Ross in the ruck, Cody Robertson in defence, Jarrah Nettleton, Bryon Vickery and Jake Humphreys.
Ross shouldered the main ruck duties following season-ending injuries to Lachlan Osborn and Will Walker, while Robertson held dynamic forward Nick Mooney to a single goal. Vickery and Max Welsh also continued their strong late-season form.
Josh Weeks kicked two goals for Lucknow, with Link McKenna, Stephen Bertino, Shaun Mooney, Logan Croucher, Ashley Smith and Bayley Croucher named among the Magpies’ best.
Orbost Snowy Rovers now turn their attention to a cut-throat elimination final against Wy Yung at the Bairnsdale City Oval this Sunday.
