Premiership favourite Swan Reach was knocked off by reigning premier Omeo Benambra in the Omeo District Football Netball League qualifying final at the Bruthen Recreation Reserve last Saturday.
With a line up containing local stars Daniel Hayes (four goals) and Alex Saunders (three), the Swans were expected to cut sway through the 2025 finals series, but the Alpine Ranges had other ideas.
A late bid to have Darren Allen and Jesse Forrester allowed to play in the finals was denied after they only played three matches, not the required four.
Swan Reach was disappointed its players couldn’t compete in the final round, which was abandoned for non-football reasons, and thought a dispensation should be granted.
Momentum in the match fluctuated with both sides having lengthy patches where they looked the better side and they were going to kick away and dominate the contest.
After a relatively even opening, the Swans went to the first break with a seven-point advantage with both sides still feeling each other out.
The second term belonged to the Ranges, who got on a roll, steering through six goals to two, opening up a more than handy 18-point advantage by the long break.
But the super talented Swans weren’t done, wrestling back momentum by booting six goals to three, finding the lead late in the quarter, starting the final term just two points in front. There was plenty to play for, the winner afforded another week off, the loser having to front up against a Buchan side, that is capable of anything on their day.
With the game on the line it was the tight-knit Alpine Ranges who responded best, playing inspired football. They kicked four goals to two, despite going into the contest without Cody Graske, James Cottrell and Ross Ansaldi, who even the opposition thought would line up.
Aiden Hayward and Daniel Jones both kicked three goals for Omeo, the latter in one of his rare forays forward for the season, while Travis Balmer and Hudson Collins slotted two each.
Liam Saunders and Harvey Whelan were handy contributors up forward for the Swans getting two each, complementing Daniel Hayes and Alex Saunders.
Amongst the best for Omeo were the hard running Brandon Betts, Hayward, ruckman Campbell Ahsam, Brent Hartnell, Darcy Fenning-Chester and Jones.
The league best and fairest-winning Alex Saunders was again sensational, well-supported by Peter Ritchie, Mark Cooper, Michael Hayes, Boris Bryant and Daniel Hayes.
Omeo Benambra is through to the grand final in a fortnight at Swifts Creek. There will be no Josh Piper, Harry Warfe, Todd Redenbach, Ryan Harwood, James Gibbs or Chris Wheeler this year, but right now the Alpine Ranges faithful have confidence this year’s list is more than capable of making it back-to-back glory for the mountain men.
Swan Reach will need to regroup quickly and hope that the loss was just a case of ‘ring rust’ having not played for three weeks.
Buchan will fancy its chances and if it gets close to its best line up on the park, an upset is possibly. An exciting afternoon of football at Swan Reach awaits.
In the juniors, Lindenow South ran out 108-point winners over Swan Reach, with Mason Irish kicking six goals to take his season total to 90.
He was joined in the best players by Kody Hammer, Blade Connelly, Hayden Roy, Nash Faithfull and Lucas Watt.
Swan Reach will now have to defeat Omeo Benambra, who will go in full of confidence after beating Bruthen by 109 points in the elimination final.
