By Ken Moore
NYORA is the minor premier and Bunyip has departed the finals race.
But these were the only clear conclusions to emerge from last week’s penultimate round.
Buln Buln and Ellinbank, which meet this week, and Warragul Industrials are vying for fifth and sixth spots on the ladder. One of these teams will be desperately unlucky to miss the finals in what shapes as a tensionfilled finale to the season.
In another highlight star Nyora recruit Nathan Osler notched 12 goals take his season’s goal tally to 101 in yet another superb performance.
Bunyip’s season was over after it went down by 21 points against Buln Buln.
After an even first quarter the Lyrebirds surged five goals ahead with the wind in the second before the Bulldogs mounted a revival. Bunyip crept within three points in the last quarter and was unlucky not to hit the lead when Trent Kneebone hit the post, but then Buln Buln wrested control and finished the game full of running.
Brad Taylor notched six goals and gave his team a tremendous target, Brent Eastwell and Tim Milner won possessions at will and veteran Anthony Baker did well off the halfback flank tagging youngster Ben Ross.
Bunyip onballers Phil Solohub, Dean O’Brien and John Perry all made their presence felt, Daniel Hagen and Gippsland Power’s Nathan Lieshout both stood out and Nick Henwood played one of his better games since joining the Bulldogs midseason from Garfield via East Devonport.
Buln Buln occupied fourth spot but was equal on 44 points with Ellinbank, Longwarry and Warragul Industrials and hence still no certainty to hold its spot if it loses to Ellinbank this week.
Ellinbank kept its finals hopes alive by upsetting Catani by 31 points. With the aid of the wind in the first quarter the Bankers leapt out of the blocks to lead by five goals before Catani worked its way back into the game and levelled proceedings at the main break.
But Ellinbank opened up a sixgoal break in the third quarter and put an end to any Catani resurgence with the opening two goals of the last quarter.
Athletic ruckman David King won plenty of ruck taps and played a pivotal role gathering possessions all over the field. Christian Bingham held the defence together and Jake Berry and Brett Kahan provided the drive all game.
Nathan Ruskin was one of the few Blues to play four good quarters, Luke McFarlane put in a top first half and Brett Mounsey troubled the opposition defence but led himself down with poor conversion.
Catani held second spot but it remains to be seen whether its confidence has taken a bit of a battering.
Ellinbank possesses a wellbalanced team with a potent forward lineup and fleetfooted midfield and higherplaced sides will be mighty anxious knowing the Bankers are hanging around.
Ellinbank meets Buln Buln this week in a match that will have all the hallmarks of the final. While the loser could miss the top six it would come as no surprise if the winner went on to play in a big role in the finals, so even is the competition.
Osler kicked 12 goals to chalk up his century as the redhot topplaced Saints demolished Lang Lang by 143 points.
Osler again proved unstoppable, Matt Hutchinson won plenty of the ball floating around the midfield and 17yearold Troy Ferguson showed plenty.
Lang Lang could muster only four goals and its better players included Kurt Batt, who rucked for most of the day, Corey Dowson, who applied himself well to a tagging role against Corey Wilson, Adam Baxter and Trevor Bush.
Warragul Industrials battled hard to see off Poowong by 32 points. The Dusties’ twopronged attack of Daniel Earl with six goals and Paul Rust with four proved the difference.
Ben Hobgen, Leon Duncan, Ron Hefford and Shane Ingram were all involved in the thick of the action.
For Poowong Trevor Hooker stood up with four goals and there was a willing band of triers in halfforward Alex McQueen, Clint Newcombe, Bronson Interlandi, Adam Miller and Chris Wilson.
Poowong was consigned to the wooden spoon, but could take heart from fighting all the way when Dusties were out to win by as much as possible.
Cora Lynn put in a valiant effort to hold off Nar Nar Goon and win by 17 points.
Kicking with the wind in the last term, the Goon was within striking distance at threequarter time, but Cora Lynn closed up the game and achieved a well deserved victory.
Chad Ingram and Luke Harris provided the midfield spark and Cameron Haynes’ tremendous season continued with six goals. Anthony Guilliano and young halfback Paul Rutter impressed in defence and another newcomer Tim Payne showed good skill and looled a likely prospect.
Cora Lynn’s performance reaffirmed it was making strides in the right direction. Nar Nar Goon was well served by Luke Dore, Hayden Salisbury and the Sweeney brothers, Simon and Chris, who have had a good month of football.
Clint Sheedy’s amazing transformation from defender to key forward continued and this week he netted six goals straight.
NilmaDarnum was torn apart early by NeerimNeerim South and cantered to a 64point victory.
Cat full forward Chris Urie notched seven goals and Jack Halligan, wingman Scott Muir and Michael Talbot in his first game for the season all put in noteworthy performances.
The best for the Bombers included wingman Matthew Brown and halfforwards Steve Hoskins and James Harvey.
Longwarry inflicted a 52point defeat on Kooweerup to guarantee it a spot in the top six.
The Crows rattled on 10 firstquarter goals to open up a 46point lead at quartertime and put the game well in its keeping.
From midway through the first quarter the Demons never threatened and would need to produce a remarkable turnaround in form to get beyond the first week of the finals.
The Crows’ midfield of Matt Campbell, Tye Holland and Paul Williams provided the main drive and Ken Towt was superb in defence.
Glen Browney set Longwarry on fire with four firstquarter goals and he finished with 10 for the match, treating the crowd to an exhibition in forward play.
Kooweerup was well served by its halfback line of Josh Evans, Brett Hobson and Ben Miller, but was soundly defeated through the midfield and looked exposed for pace.
The Crows have a workmanlike approach and a feature of their game was an ability to impart pressure on the ball carrier.
Longwarry’s chasing, tackling and harassing was firstrate and too often this forced the Demons to turn the ball over.
