Omeo District: Reagan Kyle kicks 24 goals on eve of finals series

Buchan heaped more late-season pain on Swan Reach in the Omeo and District league, with one Buchan player having a day to remember.

Buchan sealed a spot in the Omeo and District league finals series on Saturday with a 255-point mauling of Swan Reach highlighted by a 24-goal haul to Reagan Kyle.

The Cavemen began the last round in fifth spot needing a victory and a loss for fourth-placed Lindenow South to Omeo-Benambra, which wasn’t going to script at three-quarter time.

Lindenow South, the reigning premiers, led by 17 points before failing to kick a goal in the final quarter and losing by 14 points.

Buchan will play Bruthen in the Omeo and District league first semi-final. Picture: Rod Twining

Buchan will play Bruthen in the first semi-final on Saturday.

“We’ve been in the top four all year pretty much,” Buchan coach Chris Mathers said.

“Two weeks ago we thought we were going to be at full strength for the last couple of rounds.

“It didn’t quite happen with injuries, but we will hit finals at full strength all bar one player.”

Buchan coach Chris Mathers. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Rob Brick is the unlucky player who will miss out after injuring his calf in round 10.

Kyle dined out in the match, which he needed to play to qualify for finals, by kicking a bag of goals that was one short of the club record Dylan Bolton booted against Swan Reach in 2015.

It is the most goals kicked in a match statewide this season.

Kyle had eight goals to halftime before running amok in the second half to add another 16 against a depleted Swan Reach, which had only 15 players available for selection and relied on Buchan loaning it four players to ensure the match went ahead.

It has been a disastrous end to the season for Swan Reach following a player points breach that resulted in losing premiership points from eight wins to tumble from top to bottom of the ladder.

Swan Reach also forfeited its previous round match.

Buchan hasn’t won a premiership since 2005 and was sensationally disqualified from playing in the 2014 grand final when it wrongly named a player on a team sheet when he was on holidays overseas.

Meanwhile, former Swan Reach player Robbie Farnham has the all clear to play for Swifts Creek in finals with the recent match it won on forfeit counted towards the four games he needed to qualify.

Minor premier Swifts Creek and Omeo-Benambra will meet in the second semi-final in a fortnight.