Omeo District: Omeo-Benambra favourites to beat Swifts Creek in grand final

Omeo-Benambra and Swifts Creek will meet in the grand final for the second year in a row. See the paths they’ve taken to the flag decider.

Omeo-Benambra will be out to stop Swifts Creek inching closer to the most flags won by a club in the Omeo District league when they meet in the grand final at Swan Reach on Saturday.

Swifts Creek claimed its 29th premiership last year when it beat “above the gap” rivals Omeo-Benambra in the grand final to be only five behind the 34 won by Omeo as a stand-alone team before its 2007 merger with Benambra.

The high country league has been in existence in some form since 1893 and had only four clubs — Benambra, Omeo, Swifts Creek and Ensay — between 1926 and 1978 before the addition of Bruthen and Buchan.

Omeo won 20 of its 34 flags premierships between 1926 and 1978 including six in a row from 1962 with Bert Ah Sam, John Crisp, Ted Faithfull, Mick Seymour and Bill Flannagan playing in all six victories.

Omeo-Benambra coach Josh Piper is in his first season as coach. Picture: Supplied

Swifts Creek has won 11 premierships since 1979 including last year.

Omeo-Benambra’s only flag came in the first season of the merger in 2007 with grand final losses in 2014, 2019 and last year.

It heads into the grand final as hot favourites with wins over Swifts Creek by 95 and 106 points in two of their three encounters this year.

Omeo-Benambra also thrashed Lindenow South in the second semi-final by 98 points with Swifts Creek knocking over the Swampies in the preliminary final to make their third successive grand final since the two seasons wiped out by Covid.

Swifts Creek made a slow start to the season, but have hit form with back-to-back finals starting against Bruthen in the first semi-final.

Omeo-Benambra’s key forwards had a day out in the second semi-final with the league’s leading goalkicker Harry Warfe and Ryan Harwood booting five and James Gibbs going one better with six.

Swifts Creek’s ability to contain the trio will be a major factor in the grand final as will limiting the Omeo-Benambra midfield brigade led by ruck duo Campbell Ah Sam and Josh Jeffs.

Swifts Creek led Lindenow South by only three points at the last change in the preliminary final before breaking the shackles with five goals to nil in the last term.

League best and fairest winner Beau Hack booted three brilliant goals in the final quarter to help seal the victory.

Nathan Hayes, Richard Crabtree, Andrew Sandy, Ben Commins and Robbie Crellin were also among Swifts Creek’s best players.

Swifts Creek coach Conor Harvey, left. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The two teams have first-year coaches with Josh Piper in charge of Omeo-Benambra and Conor Harvey replacing flag-winning coach David Westland as Swifts Creek’s coach.

“They’ve got some classy players and we’re expecting a bit of an arm wrestle,” Piper said.

“We’ve got no injuries and I’m pretty sure we will have the same side as two weeks ago.

“I don’t think I will be changing it.

“Obviously what happened last year when they rolled us in the grand final (will be a motivating factor).

“We will be out for a bit of revenge.

“But really we just want to finish the year off, we’ve had a really good year as a unit.”