Country footy: Dimboola, Beechworth, Koroit all victorious

Dimboola was hit with major penalties at the start of the season for a salary cap breach, but finals are now in sight. See all the country footy highlights.

Dimboola has moved into the Wimmera league top five for the first time this season following salary cap turmoil engulfing the club before round one.

Part of the penalty for breaking salary cap rules last year was starting the season on minus 12 premiership points.

Dimboola had to win three matches before earning points with a 16-point, come from behind victory against Southern Mallee Giants on Saturday being its fifth in a row.

Led by starring roles from livewire forward Jonathon Ross, 2017 Toohey Medal winning midfielder Billy Hayes and ruckman Jayden Lehmann, Dimboola came from 12 points down at three quarter to slam on six goals to one in the final term and win.

Jack Landt is co-coach of Dimboola after previously playing for Sunbury. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We knew we had the ability to make finals,” Dimboola co-coach Jack Landt said.

“What happened at the start of the year has made us a bit more driven.

“It’s not something that is spoken about much, but I do think it is in the back of everyone’s minds.

“It probably has galvanised everyone a bit.”

Dimboola’s last defeat was to top team Ararat in round four and will be further bolstered by the return of forward Gene Robinson from a back injury in coming weeks.

Robinson has joined Dimboola this season from Millicent where he has kicked 1000 career goals.

Jackson Trengove kicked six goals for Southern Mallee Giants in his second game for the Wimmera club. Picture: Michael Klein

Recently departed Barooga coach Jackson Trengove lined up for his second successive match for Southern Mallee Giants and kicked six goals at full-forward before moving into the ruck in the last quarter.

Trengove is playing as a seven point player for the Giants.

TALLANGATTA AND DISTRICT

Beechworth has restored its premiership credentials by ending Chiltern’s nine-match winning streak with a spirited 13-point win on Saturday.

The two clubs have reignited a long-term rivalry forged in the Ovens and King league to be both heading towards finals in their new league.

Chiltern’s only loss this season was in round one and was further bolstered by former Wodonga Raiders young gun Tom Bracher’s first appearance for the club.

But it came up against a fired up Beechworth which made a statement early in the match to lead at quarter time by three points.

The lead changed regularly throughout the second and third quarters with Chiltern holding sway by seven points at three quarter time.

But the final term belonged to Beechworth with Alessandra Belci kicking two goals and first year player Brent Ryan sealing the win with a strong mark and accurate finish late.

“It was pleasing to have 21 blokes all play four quarters of footy,” Beechworth co-coach Brayden Carey said.

“The club has had some lean years and today gives us some of that belief we are a good side.

“Blokes who haven’t played in many winning games at all are starting to believe in that winning culture.”

Beechworth was on the bottom of the ladder when Covid cut short last season.

But the addition of three key position players, Lachlan Armstrong, Brent Ryan and Mitch Anderson has boosted its ranks.

“They just bring a lot of experience,” Carey said

Beechworth signals its back in the Tallangatta & District flag race by rolling old foes Chiltern. ⁦@theweeklytimes⁩ ⁦@ctryfootyscores⁩ ⁦@OffTheBenchOTB⁩ pic.twitter.com/R51ruOjN1V

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) June 25, 2022

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Scott Meyer and Ethan Boxall, who have also joined Chiltern from Wodonga Raiders, both tried gallantly to lift their team in the final quarter when teammate Bodie Hibberson had to be helped from the ground after going down with an ankle injury.

“We got beat fair and square,” Chiltern coach Luke Brookes said.

“We haven’t been on top of the ladder for a long time as a footy club.

“The whole group was probably getting ahead of itself, possibly myself as well.

“Might be a good thing for all of us.”

HAMPDEN

An injury-hit Koroit has overcome top five rival North Warrnambool to record a gutsy 33-point win and remain on top of the ladder.

Defender Ben Dobson and big man Jarrod Korewha were out of the match at halftime.

But Koroit had plenty of players stand up in their absence including Jeremy Hausler and the O’Sullivan brothers, Jack, Paddy and first gamer Finn, who is co-captain of the Victorian Country under-16s.

Liam Hoy was also a dominant player in the midfield for the victors.

Koroit beat North Warrnambool in the last grand final played in the Hampden league in 2019 and the feeling between the two teams was evident in the opening term.

But Koroit settled better and led by 25 points at quarter time.

Nathan Vardy was injured playing for North Warrnambool against Koroit. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

North hit back in the second term to lead at halftime despite losing star recruit Nathan Vardy to a groin injury early in the game.

Former Geelong player Billie Smedts was North’s best player.

Koroit’s only loss this season has been to second-placed South Warrnambool and the two teams meet again on July 16.