Omeo and District: Lindenow South premiers for 2022

See all the pictures from the Lindenow South-Swifts Creek grand final, one of the first to be held in Victoria since the pandemic began.

Country footy grand finals, sorely missed for two years, have roared back to life with the Omeo and District league grand final at Omeo on Saturday carrying extra significance for an area that also had to contend with major bushfires since a premiership cup was last awarded.

Covid couldn’t be shaken until this season, but for the communities of Omeo, Swifts Creek, Bruthen and Buchan, which compete in the high country league, there was also recovery from the 2019-20 Black Summer fires to deal with.

The Omeo ground, which five days before the grand final had been blanketed in snow, was the centre of a major evacuation effort at the height of the bushfire crisis.

The ADF evacuate Omeo residents from the town’s football ground in January 2022.

ADF helicopters were deployed to Omeo for anyone who wanted to flee to Bairnsdale, more than an hour away.

League president Ray Gallagher, who is a farmer and schoolteacher at Swifts Creek, said it was “fantastic to have footy back” this season.

“If I’ve done my calculations right it is 1099 days since our last grand final,” he said.

“It’s been a few tough few years for everyone.”

Omeo and District league premiers Lindenow South. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Natalie O’Connell, who lives at Omeo and is a former mayor and councillor on East Gippsland Shire, said the town had been waiting for so long for a return to normality including hosting a grand final.

“We’ve been gearing up for this day for a couple of years,” she said.

“We’ve been due to have the grand final, but of course Covid and bushfires and all those things have gotten in the way.

“We’re absolutely rapt to have everyone here.”

The Omeo football ground blanketed in snow just days before the Omeo and District Football-Netball League grand final. Picture: Supplied

Among the big crowd watching on at Omeo was the league’s oldest living former president, Jim Flannagan, who celebrated his 90th birthday seven days earlier.

His involvement with the league began as a boundary umpire when the competition resumed after World War 2 and was a timekeeper with thelate Ben Buckley before Covid hit.

The senior and under-16s football grand finals were won by Lindenow South with the club also taking out two netball flags on the day.

Lindenow South was on top of the ladder with only one loss when the season was called off last year.

But in brilliant sunshine, Lindenow South kicked four goals to two in the final term to clinch its first flag since 2016.

Lindenow South coach Nathan Pollard, left, and Sam Howden lift up the premiership cup after beating Swifts Creek in the grand final. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“We didn’t get the result last year with Covid, so it’s been a big two year project,” Lindenow South coach Nathan Pollard said.

Today’s prize. Perpetual premiership cup when Omeo & District league expanded beyond Ensay, Swifts Creek, Omeo & Benambra in 1978. @theweeklytimespic.twitter.com/ZnATWvbwQ7

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) August 27, 2022

Lindenow South jumped Swifts Creek in the first term to lead by 24 points at quarter time.

It proved crucial given the opposition had played two tough finals to make the grand final including a heart-stopper win in extra time in the preliminary final.

Best-on-ground for Lindenow South was teenage centre half-back Jake Armstrong.

Swifts Creek’s Jacob Westland is caught in a tackle from Lindenow South’s Jamie Donnelly, 52, Lindenow South. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Lindenow South players celebrate after winning the grand final. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Nathan Hayes is gang tackled by Lindenow South’s Christopher Richardson and William O'Keefe. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Lindenow South’s Russell White in front position for the ball. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Jesse Hack marks over Lindenow South’s Russell White. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Cameron Johnson and Lindenow South’s Neil Rawlings. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Robert Crellin and Lindenow South’s Bradley Pedder. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Robert Crellin and Lindenow South’s Bradley Pedder. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Arthur Wrigh and Lindenow South’s Griffin Sherritt. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Jacob Westland and Lindenow South’s Nathan Pollard. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Nathan Hayes and Lindenow South’s Griffin Sherritt battle for the ball. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Beau Hack and Lindenow South’s Jarret Callaway. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek’s Mark Cooper kicks his team forward. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Pollard was also prominent through the midfield for Lindenow South and powerhouse forward Sam Howden kicked the sealer early in the final term after Swifts Creek had closed to 17 points late in the third term.

Dylan Hack battled tirelessly for Swifts Creek with two goals in the third term providing his team with a glimmer of hope.

“The conditions in the two finals we’ve played in were really tough,” Swifts Creek coach David Westland said.

“The boys have given everything. I’m so proud of them.”

Young gun Zach O'Keefe celebrates a goal, Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Youngsters Griffen Sherritt, Seth Smith and Zach O’Keefe all provided valuable run when Swifts Creek threatened to close the gap in the second and third quarters.