Hume, Sunraysia, East Gippsland: Rand-Walbundrie-Walla dominates last term to beat Jindera
The country footy season has ticked over the halfway mark and teams are starting to make their run at finals. See the latest.
Rand-Walbundrie-Walla has cracked open a shot at a top-two finish in the Hume league with a 27-point win against Jindera on Saturday.
Seizing on the absence of Jindera topliners, including coach Joel Mackie and assistant coach Luke Garland, RWW kicked clear in the final quarter with five goals to one after less than a goal separated the two teams at the last change.
All important goals at the start of the final term were kicked by Jack Kotzur and Jai Green with the victory sealed with further goals to 2024 recruits Matt Grantham and Fraser Elliott.
Reigning premier Osborne sits on top of the ladder, but Jindera, Holbrook and RWW are locked together with 7-2 records.
RWW and Holbrook meet on Saturday.
Lockhart has bolstered its chances of playing finals for the first time in 15 years with a 30-point win against CDHBU.
SUNRAYSIA
Premiership teammates Jake Thrum and Tom Toma reunited in Irymple’s comfortable 54-point against Robinvale-Euston on Saturday.
Thrum took on the Irymple coaching job this season and Toma had been a regular player with Essendon’s VFL team in the first five rounds before suffering an injury.
After more than a month out of action, Toma returned for one more match before a VFL bye at the weekend.
He joined his former Golden Square teammate and booted three goals in a starring role that has helped Irymple, the reigning premiers, edge ahead of Robinvale-Euston on percentage with both teams on track to play finals again.
Imperials remain on top of the ladder after a narrow victory against fifth-placed Mildura with star recruit Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti kicking only one goal.nt win against Jindera on Saturday.
EAST GIPPSLAND
Lucknow survived a second half fightback from Orbost-Snowy Rovers to win a one-point thriller on Saturday.
Lucknow led by seven goals at the 10-minute mark of the third term before Orbost-Snowy Rovers clicked into gear to hit the front by one point twice in the last quarter.
Scores were level with one second to go when Lucknow forced a rushed behind to scrape home by the barest of margins.
After missing finals last year, Lucknow is on top of the ladder, one match clear of reigning premiers, Wy Yung, Boisdale-Briagolong and Stratford, which are all level on six wins and two losses.
Orbost-Snowy Rovers are two games outside the top four with the run home to finals underway.
Glen Perkins starred off halfback and Jackson Smith booted four goals for Lucknow with recruits Jessie Pescod, John Gooch and Zack Smith also in the best.
Ruckmen Dion Grace and Wes Russell had a great battle and brothers Brayden and Lachlan Fenner booted three goals each for Orbost-Snowy Rovers.
Reigning premier Wy Yung welcomed back best-on-ground in last year’s grand final, Mitchell Toms, in its big win against Lakes Entrance.
Toms has returned from Bairnsdale where he played four senior matches.
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