All roads will lead to the Swifts Creek Recreation Reserve on Saturday for the 2025 Omeo District grand final, with reigning premier Omeo Benambra battling Swan Reach, who were the premiership favourites until being defeated in the qualifying final 10 days ago.
Interestingly, the Alpine Ranges will almost certainly include key backman, James Cottrell, and gun midfielder, Ross Ansaldi, while consideration will be given to including Cody Graske and his injury-riddled body, which has yielded 40 goals from just eight games this season.
Only seven points separated the two teams last time, and another close, enthralling contest is expected, with the side that holds their nerve and absorbs the pressure being the one that will be left holding the cup at 4.45pm.
The Swans’ line-up includes genuine superstars Daniel Hayes and Alex Saunders, who, if on song, are capable of taking the game away from the Alpine Ranges in a 10 or 15-minute burst.
Saunders, who this year won the league best and fairest, has an exquisite left foot that is capable of hitting a target with precision. He will play mainly on the ball but will rest forward where he is equally as dangerous.
If he can regularly find the chest of the mercurial Hayes, who heads into the match under a fitness cloud, and chips in with three or four of his own, the Swans might get enough goals to win the game.
Omeo Benambra is a more even effort outfit, led by Aidan Hayward and Brandon Betts, who both have a touch of class and wouldn’t be out of place in the East Gippsland Football Netball League.
Cottrell and Ansaldi are huge inclusions, both among the team’s top five players, and they will combine well with hard man, Brady Pendergast, and veteran half-back, Daniel Jones.
Momentum in the match is sure to fluctuate, but the Alpine Ranges will win the match if they can quell Saunders and Hayes.
However, on a big ground with 16 players a side, that is almost impossible to do, particularly for Saunders, who rarely has a poor game.
Omeo Benambra will be hoping to go back-to-back. There will be no Josh Piper, Harry Warfe, Todd Redenbach, Ryan Harwood, James Gibbs or Chris Wheeler this year, but the Alpine Ranges faithful believe this year’s list can get the job done.
The Swans looked rusty a fortnight ago. They improved significantly last week against a tough opponent in Buchan. They are confident they have the side to win the flag as well. Time will tell who the victor is, but don’t expect either side to leave anything out there.
This could be another game for the ages, with a big crowd expected to pack in, with plenty of spirit and passion on display on and off the field.
In the juniors Lindenow South will take on Omeo Benambra, who have impressed with two huge wins in the final series.
The Swampies made short work of the Swan Reach in the qualifying final, winning by 108 points, while the young Alpine Ranges eclipsed the Swans just as easily last week by 90 points.
The Swampies have beaten Omeo by around 10 goals in their past two meetings, after a less than a goal result early in the season.
Both sides will go in full of confidence, with Lindenow South firm favourites, but an upset isn’t out of the question if Omeo get a positive start.
On a side note, Swampies full forward Mason Irish heads into the match with 90 goals and might have a chance to finish with 100 in a premiership. Wouldn’t that be a day the young man will never forget?
