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- Round 22
Round 22
9
"A lot of clubs that had been in our situation were saying, we're no chance to come back, writing us off, but this means a lot to not just the players, but to all the people behind the scenes who did all the work getting us back"
A wrapped Jedd Longmire on the Roos triumph
The Headline
Widely tipped to disappear into the annals of history, then also to go winless after their Houdini-like return to the O&M, Corowa-Rutherglen have pulled off another miracle.
The Raiders went in without 3 of their best in Sam Darley, Brad St John & Tom Bracher, so when the Roos found themselves down by 4 goals at the first break, a rare opportunity looked lost.
But kicking the next 6 unanswered over the remainder of the game would see the Roos win their first since July '22 (21 games).
Kudos John Foord, kudos.
Around the Grounds
Albury stay alive for a finals berth after taking care of Wang with an impressive 5 goal last quarter.
A galvanising midweek honesty session seemed to spark the Tiges, who sit just a win outside with 3rd taking on 5th & destiny in their own hands.
Wodonga flogged Lavi, piling on 10 goals to 3 in the first half & never looking in any form of danger.
Quite typical of the Panthers season really, rolled Rovers & North of recent, lost to Wang by 3 points, then get flogged by the club most riddled by injury - gulfs between their best & worst.
The Doggies though, are another club with fate relying on themselves.
North had no answers for Yarra, outpaced by the raging flag favourites who had more than double the looks on goal.
Equal 3rd with Wang & this week's opponent, Wodonga, the Hoppers now also find themselves fighting not to be eliminated.
Goalkickers
🏉 Leigh Williams trails Hopper Josh Minogue by just 4 goals after a big bag of 8 in game 50 for the Pigeons
🏉 Pie Mick Newton & Wodonga's Riley Gill picked up 5 each
🏉 Roo Sam Dunstan stood tall again with 4
Match of the Round
(3) North v Wodonga (5)
Another Elimination Final come early.
The winner is a show at top 3, but would need to win big to compete with Wang, who'll likely slaughter the Raiders.
It's more about survival - the looser, every chance to miss finals with Albury right on their tails - so expect both to lay it all on the line.
Form: North (2-3) - Wodonga (4-1)
Last Time: R9 - North by 1 point
Tip: North by 3 points
"Somebody once told me that you never take a Ferrari paddock bashing"
Brookers co-coach Andrew Mackinlay on Jock Triggs returning through the 2's
The Headline
Ending 8 on the trot for the Dees, Holbrook have become the first team to best Lockhart at Lockhart this season, tying down 2nd spot in the process.
Must have been frustrating for the Dees, watching Brooker Josh Kable cut off seemingly every forward foray, allegedly with 21 intercept marks for the day.
Around the Grounds
RWW fell just short of a wasteful Osborne, the Tiges managing 1.8 between the first & last break.
Coming from 21 points down early in the 4th, the Giants peppered late with the last 5 scoring shots, but were unable to slot the winner.
Jindera found some form on the road to Urana in a genuine danger game, breaking the game open after halftime, 8 goals to Billabong's 3.
Henty kept their slim finals hopes alive, accounting for the Saints.
They'd need a miracle though, trailing the Giants by a game & 30-odd percent.
Goalkickers
🏉 The Power's Ryan Beveridge draws level at the top of the goalkickers after his bag of 6 & is set to become the youngest winner of the award in 31 years with injured Brooker Luke Gestier set to miss
🏉 Osborne's Connor Galvin nabbed a handful, 4 in the first quarter if you don't mind
🏉 Henty's Shannon Turlich helped himself to 4 to sit stand-alone 3rd of the goalkickers
Match of the Round
(5) Jindera v Lockhart (4)
It's simply a jostle for position, maybe who holds the wood over the other ahead of a potential repeat matchup in next week's Elimination.
The Dogs are battling injury & their 4 wins from the past 2 months have come against those well out of contention.
Meanwhile, the Dees will be filthy they let slip an opportunity for the double chance, certainly keen to bounce back away against another finalist.
Form: Jindera (3-2) - Lockhart (4-1)
Last time: R11 - Dees by 13 points
Tip: Dees by 24 points
"How much do we want this?"
Thurgoona coach Dan McAlister at the quarter time huddle
The Headline
Thurgoona have stunned Beechworth, booting 11 goals to 1 after quarter time to send the Bushies tumbling from the 3.
It's a devastating loss for the Bushies, who looked likely to be a major headache come finals a month ago, but now have to go it the hard way with an Elimination Final against a Doggies outfit that just gave them a touch up.
Around the Grounds
KSC did what they needed to, accounting for Tallangatta with a 74 point win, restricting the Hoppers to just 3 goals for the match.
You can bet the song was sung with a bit extra after they saw the scoreline of the Bushies v Dogs.
Chiltern locked down 2nd spot, averaging 5 goals a quarter to Mitta's lone major, ensuring they don't need to repeat last year's long road through finals.
Yack enjoyed a nice tune up, showing the difference between the best & the rest by touching up the Tiges, who themselves faught out a gallant season.
There was rarely a moment the Roos looked troubled though, blowing the game open with 10 goals to 3 in the opening half.
Goalkickers
🏉 James Breen - Tallangatta - 76
🏉 Jack Chesser - Barnawartha - 73
🏉 Mark Doolan - Chiltern - 57
1st Qualifying
Chiltern v KSC
Chiltern have got a hold of their old foes on both occasions this year, but the Hawks seem to be hitting their straps at the right time with as near a full strength list as they’ve had all year - while the Swans have battled to hit the scoreboard against the remaining top 5 over the past month or so in their chase for the 3-peat.
Form: Chiltern (3-2) - KSC (5-0)
Last time: R13 - Swans by 20 points
Tip: Hawks by 14 points
Elimination
Beechworth v Thurgoona
History counts for little when finals hit, but being on the wrong end of a caning from your opponent a week prior can either light a fire or cause doubt to creep in.
That'll be the battle for the Bushies to overcome, but they’ll look far stronger with Kayde Surrey, Lachie Armstrong & Ed Cartledge expected to return.
Meanwhile, the Dogs can't allow complacency to rear its head if they’re to progress.
There's only one shot.
Form: Beechworth (3-2) - Thurgoona (4-1)
Last time: R18 - Dogs by 61 points
Tip: Dogs by 3 points
“It was a fair-dinkum nail biter towards the end there, it could’ve gone either way"
King Valley co-coach Tony Ciancio on the Roos cutting the top 6
The Headline
It had all the hallmarks of a game of importance, both teams needing a win to keep their season alive, but it was King Valley who rolled past an inaccurate North Wang.
Leading at every change & with +8 scoring shots the last break, the Hawks threatened to steam right on through.
But as is so often the case, opposition will seize if you leave scoreboard pressure on the table - as the Roos did, charging home with 4 goals to 1 to steal a spot in the finals & ending the Hawks season.
Around the Grounds
Bright overpowered Milawa in the final term, blowing a 5 point margin out to 41 with 6 unanswered to prove they're a step above.
As with the rest of the season, Cooper Thomason was the focal point, bagging a handful to take out the League's Leading Goalkicker.
Greta weren't troubled by Whorouly in the final home & away, but spearhead Frazer Judd's haul of 6 fell just short of the required to steal a the goalkicking title.
Blues teammate Jimmy McClounan nabbed 5, but he also fell short of some early bling, narrowly missing out on the League B&F.
Bonnie Doon continued their dominance, sealing top spot & an undefeated season after handing Tarra a thumping.
Matt Hedin found himself in the best again & was rewarded for a standout season on Sunday night with the Clyde Baker.
Goalkickers
🏉 Cooper Thomason - Bright - 81
🏉 Frazer Judd - Greta - 80
🏉 Duane Haebich - Goorambat - 72
1st Elimination
Bright v King Valley
On paper, it looks like the Mountain Men will have little more than a training session here.
They're part of the big 3, humbling all in their path... Except for that time they scraped through by the skin of their teeth against the Hawks... Or last week when the Dees were in it up to their eyeballs at the last break.
The Roos also got a hold of the Bats a month ago, & were by no means disgraced by the Bombers (-14 points) since then.
Before writing this one off as a forgone conclusion, remember, you've got to be in it to win it. But...
Form: Bright (5-0) - (3-2)
Last time: R5 - Mountain Men by 120 points
Tip: Mountain Men by 80 points
2nd Elimination
Milawa v Goorambat
These 2 have split the points so far this season, their last meeting at the beginning of August seeing the Bats get revenge for the first meeting, but it's hard to get a read here.
The Bats finished off with comfortable wins over cellar-dwellers Moyhu & Benalla, while the Dees were beaten back by Greta & Bright, suffering a horror injury count against the Mountain Men.
Can lightning strike twice?
Guess we'll find out on Sunday.
Form: Milawa (2-3) - Goorambat (3-2)
Last time: R18 - Bats by 24 points
Tip: Dees by 5 points
"If we are unfit, how come we keep over-running Bullioh every time?"
Cudgewa co-coach Dayne Carey
Grand Final
Cudgewa v Bullioh
Cudgewa start a raging favourite in the decider, the reigning premier on a 27-match winning streak, including all five encounters against the Dogs this season with margins of 5, 2, 34, 7 and 12 points.
The Doggies have held the lead at the final change in four of those five encounters, but were unable to keep the foot on the throat - where the Blues have shown plenty of that big game experience, and a track record of finding a way to get the job done. But they’ve only played the 1 game in 4 weeks.
Footy is rife with tales of underdogs chasing down the runaway favourites at the final hurdle, particularly when they've been oh so close all season.
Form: Cudgewa (5-0) - Bullioh (3-2)
Last time: Qualifying - Blues by 12 points
Tip: Dogs by 1 point