An in-form Lakes Entrance has moved into the top four after scoring an impressive victory over Orbost Snowy Rovers in round eight of the East Gippsland Football Netball League at Lochiel Park.
It was the Seagulls’ fourth consecutive and most important win of the campaign, jumping the Blues on the ladder to take residency in the top four for the first time since round three, 2022.
Play started in slippery conditions with a yellow football in use. The damp weather initially suited the bigger-bodied Orbost players, with co-captains Braeden Ross and Gus Rogers prolific early.
Hamish Nettleton, Wes Russell and Jacob Farley were significant inclusions for the home side, with the former adding some potential firepower to the forward 50. The sides traded goals in the first term, with the Blues taking a three-point advantage into the first break, a margin that probably flattered the visitors slightly.
The run of play continued for the home side in the second term as they kicked three goals to one, opening up a handy 12-point buffer by the long break.
Lakes Entrance coach Darren Martin made several match-defining moves in that second term which eventually shaped the direction of the contest. He opted to play first-choice ruckman Josh Wykes as a big-bodied midfielder, using James Beha and Logan Brown in the ruck.
With conditions drying in the second half, Martin instructed his side to use as much of the ground as possible to allow the Seagulls’ superior fitness to challenge the home side.
The impact was almost immediate. The Blues slowed to a walk in the second half while the Seagulls kicked 11 goals to just two, running out easy 46-point winners — a result that looked highly unlikely in the first half.
Emerging youngster Caleb O’Donnell was pivotal on the wing, playing his best game of senior football and constantly pumping the ball inside 50 to advantage.
Former AFL player Mitch Banner continued his sensational season, kicking three goals while playing primarily on the ball. The Seagulls went inside 50 a total of 21 times in the third quarter alone, yielding five goals. This was much to the delight of players like Tom Hudson, who presented all day and was rewarded with three goals.
One of the highlights of the victory was the numerous avenues to goal available to the Seagulls, with Dylan Nikolajew, Angus McKenzie and Liam Carroll all kicking two goals each. George Ioakim, Beha and Xavier Woodland also hit the scoreboard for the visitors, which impressed coach Martin.
“It was a gutsy win,” Martin said.
“We worked through the matchups and, most importantly, played the game on our terms in the second half, sharing the goals around.”
The veteran coach was also pleased to reintroduce promising youngster Harper Davis to the senior lineup for the first time this season, noting he looked the part at the level.
Beha worked hard in the ruck, while McKenzie and Wykes did as they pleased in the second half, combining well with Banner, Carroll, O’Donnell and company.
For the Blues, Russell kicked two goals in a promising first outing for the season, but Hamish Nettleton, who has previously played with Heyfield in the North Gippsland Football Netball League, had little impact.
His brother, Curtley Nettleton, was again a standout in the back six for Orbost. He was well assisted by Kieran Vickery, who picked up plenty of possessions in the backline, though his clearances didn’t deeply hurt the Seagulls. Rogers and Braeden Ross tried hard, but their influence dulled in the second half, while Lachlan Osborn toiled manfully in the ruck against three quality opponents.
Now third on the ladder, the Seagulls will this week tackle fourth-placed Wy Yung at the Lakeside Oval as they look to continue their hot streak and chase a possible top-two finish.
Martin remains bullish about taking on the Tigers. Although Wykes will be unavailable, Jorden Cullen and Tarkyn Nicol loom as possible replacements.
“We matched up well against them last time,” Martin said.
“It’s one of the games we were in but didn’t get over the line, so we are hoping to reverse the result this time.”
