By Jonty Ralphsmith
Longwarry has stunned Ellinbank and shaken up the Ellinbank District Football League table in a wet Saturday of footy.
The Crows upstaged the Eagles 7.12 54 to 7.7 49, thanks in large part to a 4.5 second quarter which gave them a healthy 11-point halftime lead.
The weather set in the second half putting a premium on the early scoring, with Ellinbank scoring two goals to one after the main break to make for a tense climax as skills became sloppy.
Led by tenacious emerging teen Cooper Brown, the physicality of Ryan Wouters and the hard work of Bailey Stephens, Josh Bourke, and playing-coach Darren Granger, the visitors were able to hold on.
The Crows’ win has second through fifth on the EDFL table all sitting on 11 wins with a month to play in the season.
Longwarry’s upset of Ellinbank after its surprise win over Lang Lang a fortnight ago means not only has it locked in a finals berth, there is now some chance of finishing higher than fifth, which looked highly unlikely a month ago.
Longwarry will relish a test against the league’s pacesetter Buln Buln this Saturday, before it will be tipped to defeat Yarragon and Trafalgar to finish the regular season, creating some intrigue around the seedings of the top five.
Elsewhere, reigning premier Buln Buln was scrappy in its defeat of the winless Nyora, winning 7.16 58 to 1.1 7.
Gun goal kicker Patrick Ireland missed an opportunity to kick a big bag and draw within touching distance of 100 goals, managing just two.
He’s up to 82 for the season, and looks set for the achievement after the regular season, with three home and away games plus finals remaining.
Bobby McCallum and Will Battley were the Lyrebords’ best.
Neerim South was far too good for Catani, winning 13.19 97 to 3.1 19 led by Ayden Ramm and trusty youngster Kody Wilson.
Nilma Darnum kept Poowong to just one goal up to three quarter time, with the Magpies’ fast finish not enough in a 7.8 50 to 4.13 37 victory led by Bomber Jeremy Jarred.
Trafalgar was too good for Yarragon in the other game, winning 9.15 69 to 2.5 17.
Ladder: Buln Buln 60, Neerim South 44, Ellinbank 44, Lang Lang 44, Longwarry 44, Nilma Darnum 32, Trafalgar 32, Poowong 16, Yarragon 12, Catani 8, Nyora 0.
Fixture: Catani v Ellinbank, Nilma Darnum v Neerim South, Lang Lang v Poowong, Longwarry v Buln Buln, Nyora v Yarragon
