An astonishing performance from the miraculous Daniel Hayes has seen ladder leader Swan Reach return to the winners’ list against Buchan at home in round 11 of the Omeo District Football Netball League.
Recent losses to Swifts Creek and Bruthen has seen the Swans vulnerable, despite still being a game clear at the top of the table, but Hayes’ sensational 15-goal haul has the Swan Reach season well and truly back on track.
Hayes’ dominant performance, which saw him kick 15 of his team’s 18 goals, was even more unbelievable in that he appeared to still be hampered by a calf strain that had kept him out last week after being recently cleared from arch rival Bruthen.
It was Hayes’ second double figure haul for the season, kicking 10 goals for the Bulldogs
in their round one shellacking of Lindenow South.
The Cavemen welcomed Northern Territory based players Joshua McCarthy and Darcy and Cameron Edwards as they threw everything at the Swans, hoping to counter the mid-season resurgence of Swifts Creek which has derailed Buchan’s chances of making the finals in 2025.
Had it not been for Hayes’ dominance they may well have banked the points, with the Swans deciding to play him despite not being 100 per cent, with Darren Allen, Max Solomon, Keith Ritchie,
Boris Byrant and Phillip Solomon missing.
Swan Reach was up and about early, keen to right the wrongs of the previous week when poor discipline cost it certain victory
against Bruthen.
The Swans kicked four goals to one in the opening term, setting the tone for
the day and although the Cavemen never gave up and were gallant in defeat, they had no answer to Hayes as Swan Reach turned a 23-point half time margin into a 38-point victory.
Key playmaker Alex Saunders’ kicking to Hayes on the lead was almost as impressive as the latter’s goalkicking as the Swans finished with an impressive final score
of 18.3-111.
Buchan had two more shots at goal but were easily accounted for despite Tyson Siddle finishing with
five goals.
Hayes and Saunders were joined in the best players by Che Davies, robust midfielder Will Forrester, Peter Ritchie and Dylan Bryant.
The Cavemen were well served by McCarthy, Cameron Edwards, Jai Nicholls, Jake Reynolds, Tyson Siddle and Aidan Allisey.
