Omeo District: Omeo-Benambra claims first flag since 2007

Omeo-Benambra has avenged last year’s grand final loss to rival high country club Swifts Creek in devastating style. See how it happened.

Omeo-Benambra put an exclamation mark on a dominant season with a crushing 76-point win against Swifts Creek in the Omeo District grand final at Swan Reach on Saturday.

A 17-year flag drought ended for Omeo-Benambra when it took complete control early in the second half.

Its last premiership coincided with the first year of the merger between the two clubs with histories dating back to the 1880s and a combined 54 premierships as standalone teams.

Omeo-Benambra had first use of the scoring end and led by 18 points at quarter time before Swifts Creek kicked two late goals in the second term to make the margin 21 points at halftime.

But as it had threatened to do at various stages in the first half, Omeo-Benambra, refreshed from a week’s spell after a second semi-final walloping of Lindenow South and hungry to atone for last year’s loss to Swifts Creek in the grand final, blew the game apart.

Omeo-Benambra pair Harry Warfe and Cody Graske celebrate a goal in the grand final win against Swifts Creek. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Key forward James Gibbs, the league’s leading goalkicker Harry Warfe and Aiden Hayward booted three goals in quick succession to make the margin 45 points.

Swifts Creek, which had come from fourth spot to make the grand final, had no answers.

Its bench was decimated with shoulder injuries to Daniel O’Brien, James Turner and Brodie Cameron.

O’Brien was hurt early in the match and bravely returned to the fray after the long break when Turner and Cameron were forced out.

The Creek also went into the match without key defender Tom King and Jay Robbie from its winning preliminary final team.

But all plaudits belonged to its “above the gap” rivals who had lost three grand finals since their last flag.

Omeo-Benambra’s James Gibbs launches over a Swifts Creek opponent. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Gibbs had four goals to three quarter time when the margin had blown out to 10 goals and the premiership party was in full swing when former coach Cody Graske kicked the first two goals of the last term.

Omeo-Benambra won the midfield battles with Jordan Robertson, Ross Ansaldi and Riley Steenholdt playing starring roles.

“All the hard work for the year, we’ve got there,” Omeo-Benambra coach Josh Piper said.

“I don’t think there were any brilliant individual performances and I thought we did it as a team.

“I told them to come inside, take risks and just have fun boys and we did.

“I honestly thought it was easier going into the wind.

“You didn’t rely on it so much.”

Omeo-Benambra won its first flag since 2007. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Piper joined Omeo-Benambra last year from Lakes Entrance and took on the coaching job this season for the first time.

Omeo-Benambra lost one of its best players, ruckman-key forward Jai Hayward to Sunraysia league club Red Cliffs this season and Piper targeted Gibbs, who he had played with at Lakes Entrance to help fill the void.

Hayward’s younger brother Aiden played his part in the Omeo-Benambra victory by finishing with two goals.

Gibbs had been a star player for Bairnsdale before joining Lakes Entrance late in his career.

But at the age of 39 he managed to kick 11 goals in two finals wins for Omeo-Benambra.

Piper also picked up Warfe from Lakes Entrance with the livewire finishing with 90 goals in his first season at senior level after being the leading goalkicker in the East Gippsland league thirds last year with 67 goals.

Swifts Creek’s Nathan Hayes tries to stop Omeo-Benambra’s Cody Graske. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Swifts Creek rallied strongly from a 0-3 start to the season under new coach Conor Harvey to finish fourth and beat Bruthen and Lindenow South in earlier finals matches.

But it was no match for Omeo-Benambra despite the best efforts of Richard Crabtree, Robbie Crellin and Patrick Cusack.

Hopes of a contest were briefly raised in the second term when 16-year-old Jack Reid and Crabtree booted successive goals for Swifts Creek.

“Omeo-Benambra played well and their run with the ball was very good,” Swifts Creek assistant coach Geoff Neeson said.

“But early on we were able to go with them.

“It was tough for both teams with the wind.

“It was still only five goals to two at half time.

“You can’t make excuses, but injuries are part of footy and they really cruelled us.”

Omeo-Benambra’s William Cook takes on two Swifts Creek opponents. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

MATCH DETAILS

OMEO-BENAMBRA 3.1 5.4 12.8 16.9 (105)

SWIFTS CREEK 0.1 2.1 3.2 4.5 (29)

Goals: OMEO-BENAMBRA: J. Gibbs 5, H. Warfe 3, C. Graske 3, R. Harwood 2, A. Hayward 2, R. Ansaldi. SWIFTS CREEK: R. Crabtree, J. Reid, J. Barton, A. Sandy.

Best: OMEO-BENAMBRA: J. Robertson, R. Ansaldi, J. Gibbs, W. Cook, R. Steenholdt, A. Hayward. SWIFTS CREEK: R. Crabtree, R. Crellin, P. Cusack, B. Commins, A. Sandy.