Upper Murray, Omeo District: Cudgewa books grand final berth

Footy finals are underway in two high country footy leagues with one team already into the grand final and another making an ominous charge.

Cudgewa set up a crack at back-to-back Upper Murray league premierships with a stirring fightback to beat Bullioh in the second semi-final on Saturday.

The reigning premiers lived up to their reputation as the “heart attack kids” when they booted five of the last six goals to win by 12 points and claim the all important home ground advantage for the grand final in a fortnight.

Livewire forward Ben Hall, who was hardly sighted for three quarters, cut loose in the final quarter with three goals in four minutes to give Cudgewa the lead for the first time.

Capping off an unforgettable day for Cudgewa, Grady Nigsch and Jack Gilbee finished first and second in the Upper Murray league best and fairest count held after the match.

“You don’t give up on this team,” Cudgewa co-coach Josh Bartel said.

“We’ve come back from worse than that against Bullioh.

“We’re called the heart attack kids, but I’d really appreciate it if we started a bit better.

“We’ve got a lot of experienced boys here playing.

“We don’t panic under those conditions.”

Bullioh made a mess of the big moments in the last term.

After Cudgewa drew within a point, Bullioh conceded the next goal following a centre square free kick before a costly ruck infringement led directly to another goal from key forward Guy Telford.

Bullioh had led by 16 points at quarter time, three points at halftime and 15 points at the last change.

It opened the biggest lead of the match of 21 points early in the last term when coach Clint Brunnenmeyer raced into an open goal.

Upper Murray second semi-final day. Cudgewa v Bullioh. Winner into first country footy GF of 2024 in fortnight. ⁦@theweeklytimes⁩ ⁦@ctryfootyscores⁩ pic.twitter.com/zbhaHKzv2c

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) August 10, 2024

Cudgewa kicked a goal soon after, but Bullioh responded and led again by 20 points before the match flipped on its head.

The latest result mirrored their round 6 encounter when Bullioh led by 29 points at three quarter time before Cudgewa stormed home to win by two points.

Three of their five encounters this season have been decided by seven points or less.

Bullioh must beat Tumbarumba in the preliminary final to earn another shot at Cudgewa in the grand final.

Swifts Creek coach Conor Harvey, left, booted eight goals against Lindenow South. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Meanwhile, Omeo District league reigning premier Swifts Creek remains in the flag hunt after downing Bruthen by 44 points in the first semi-final on Saturday.

First-year coach Connor Harvey booted eight of the 11 goals The Creek booted in the match it had control of by halftime.

Andrew Sandy, Brodie Cameron and Ben Commins, who didn’t play in The Creek’s flag team last year, were named in the best players.

Captain Beau Hack was also in the best players and took out the league best and fairest award by one vote from past winner, Lindenow South’s Nathan Pollard.

Swifts Creek Beau Hack has taken out the Omeo District league best and fairest by one vote. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Hack polled three votes in the last round win over Buchan to finish on 21 votes after Pollard had polled three votes in the previous round to move to 20.

Pollard didn’t poll a vote in the last round loss to Omeo-Benambra, which will play Lindenow South in the second semi-final on Saturday.