THE Leongatha Reserves joined their senior team clubmates in making club history on Saturday as the only time in they’ve gone back-to-back, winning Reserves and Seniors premierships in consecutive years.
It’s the ultimate for a club playing group.
You’ve got up to 50 players, training together right to the end of the season and a full list to pick from knowing most players will get a game, even those like Cam Stone, who copped a hamstring injury during the finals, and wasn’t risked in the Seniors.
He got through the Reserves’ match, playing especially well in the first half when the match was there to be won, but nonetheless hampered by the discomfort.
But it was funny old game all the same with collectively only three goals to show by both teams until half time.
The players acknowledged afterwards that there was congestion on both forward lines, players crowded into the corridors at both ends, and little room to move, but even in that scenario, Leongatha looked the better side and you felt it was only a matter of time.
That time came in the ‘premiership quarter’ when Leongatha’s class shone through and they kicked five goals to two for the third quarter with only former football prodigy Bohdi Walker keeping Sale ticking over with all three of their goals to that stage.
Match report: At the 13 minute mark there was still no score in the first quarter of the Reserves but finally Leongatha’s Flynn Materia had a shot from wide out, opening Leongatha’s account with a point. There was another soon after. Adam Trotto won a free and barrelled it long to where Hayden Lindsay took a big fly in a goal square pack, but Sale’s defenders rushed it through.
Still Leongatha had most of the play to the 18-minute mark but as often happens Sale transitioned up the other end to where big Bohdi Walker received a free and slotted it from 35 metres against the run of play as the only goal for the quarter.
In the second quarter of the Reserves, Leongatha got on the board early through Darcy Berryman after a mark in the goal square and Josh Schelling put them further in front later. ‘Schells’ had been dominating the packs, Cam Stone was getting touches and league’s best player Darcy Hume was also doing well but neither team was able to put their stamp on the game.
Half time: Leongatha 2.4.16. Sale 1.1.7.
Leongatha was first to attack in the third but it was only a point initially however Lachie Wright followed up with a snap for goal.
Up the other end Bohdi Walker took a nice mark and again kicked truly from the same spot as before.
Sale attacked again but a crunching tackle released Stone and the Parrots went coast to coast for a goal to Jacob Lamers out of the pack.
Straight after that Adam Trotto combined with Oakley Kerr and Jacob Lamers in sparkling form to get the ball forward to where Wright was presently well, he earned a free kick for his second goal, the Parrots were on their way at the 12-minute mar4k.
And moments later after good work in the back half by Jake Mackie, and Darcy Hume with Schells marking the outlet pass they rolled forward again to where Darcy Berryman goaled – it had suddenly become a procession to the Parrots’ goal.
A miss kick by Oakley Kerr fell into the hands Bohdi Walker and he made no mistake to keep alive late in the third term.
Leongatha 7.5.47 Sale 3.2.20
At the last change the message from coach Rhett Kelly was simple: “Another 30 minutes of this, really deserve it.”
Bohdi Walker was doing the talking in their last huddle as well and delivered a blunt challenge: “If there is anyone here who doesn’t think we can kick five goals to win this they should go sit on the bench.”
And they attacked first, dominating the first 10 minutes, finally with a goal to Chris Laverty a beautiful kick from 50.
Leongatha’s defenders locked down with Mitchel Bentvelzen one of those showing how, Steve Forrester and Ethan Lamers also good.
Leongatha threatened to get clear with Ethan Lamers doing well back there but sale returned fire with a snap shot for a point and after a better build up Sale’s Ostin Waugh and Daniel Byron combined but he missed an easy one.
Leongatha’s Hayden Lindsay spun out of a tackle at hall back and Jarrod Stewart could have delivered the coup de grace up forward but missed it on the run.
Finally, though Jacob Lamers hit the ball at full pace got it on to Lachie Wright who received a free but he couldn’t add to his tally of three for the day.
A final goal might have been nice for the crowd but the Parrots had control throughout and went on to win by better than three goals.
Josh Schelling overpowered the opposition all day in the ruck and marking around the ground to win the medal, presented by his father former Gippsland football administrator, representing one of the league’s sponsors Evans Petroleum, John Schelling. Kyle Brown and Ethan Lamers in defence, Jarrod Stewart up forward, and both Hayden Lindsay and the league’s best player in 2023 Darcy Hume adding a touch of class in transition.
But it was a complete display by the Parrots, missing only a string of goal to match their dominance on the day.
Final Scores: Leongatha 7.7.49 def Sale 4.4.28.
