Fresh off a confidence-boosting annihilation of Paynesville last week, Orbost Snowy Rovers will continue its quest for finals action with a home game against Boisdale Briagolong at Lochiel Park.
With five games to play, the Blues sit in fifth place, two games and percentage behind third-placed Wy Yung and fourth-seeded Stratford, who are both a game behind Boisdale Briagolong and Lucknow.
Orbost is under no illusions, it may have to win the final five matches of the season to make the finals, and even that gives no guarantees.
Stratford’s win over Wy Yung last week appears to make its task harder, but not impossible.
Nothing separated the Blues and the Bombers in round six at the Cabbage Patch, Orbost getting home by five points on the last kick of the day, courtesy of a Gus Rogers goal.
The Blues gleefully welcomed back Ash Jonkers, Jordan Ross and Tommy Smith for the Paynesville game and will be keen to get Clancy Bennett, Curtley Nettleton, Henry Vine and key big man, Wes Russell, in this week if possible.
Russell would be an important inclusion, with his influence and that of sidekick, Will Walker, hopefully enough to decrease the enormous influence that Bomber giant, Matt Wilkinson, has had in the ruck and around the contest thus far in 2024.
The corresponding clash last year was a one-point win to Boisdale Briagolong, in a match that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
The match will probably be decided in the middle, with the Bombers likely to welcome back key midfield general, Kel Porter, who combines well at the clinches with Tom Jolly and Jackson Glenane.
Jonkers could get the big assignment on Porter, and will have his hands full.
The Blues will be hoping Braeden Ross and Rogers can win plenty of the ball themselves and make the Bombers accountable.
Despite losing key forward, Jesse Bedg-good several weeks ago with a season ending knee injury, the Bombers have readapted and are going along nicely with a forward set up built around captain Jim Reeves, Cal Egan and coach, Sam Bedggood.
Orbost will be looking for a big game from co-captain, Hamish Nettleton, if he can get on the board early, he’s the barometer who often sets the tone of how his side plays.
He may have his hands full with the reliable Andrew Quirk, but the Blues have shown they aren’t a one-trick pony, with Lachie Fenner showing last week what he is capable of, kicking six goals.
Looms an intriguing clash, one Orbost Snowy Rovers can ill afford to drop.
