Rovers are on their way to the big dance

Saturday's O&M senior football second semi-final was everything punters would’ve wanted from two of the best teams going head-to-head in finals footy. The minor premiers Wangaratta Rovers met the surging Myrtleford Saints in glorious sunshine at Norms Minns Oval, and it was a stunning showcase of September football in front of a crowd exceeding 2600. Ultimately, the Rovers won through to the 2025 O&M grand final with an 11-point margin, 11.13 (79) to 10.8 (68). It was a blistering start from the defending premiers, who booted the first two goals on their way to a 17-point quarter time lead. The Rovers continued to build, but Myrtleford had started to get their game going. The Saints blossomed after half time, bringing the 19-point half-time margin back to just nine at the final change of ends, but some clutch goals from Jez Rigoni in the second half kept the Rovers ahead. It was frenetic in the final term, but the Rovers had enough in the tank to hold off the Saints and book their ticket to the grand final. Rovers footy operations manager Barry Sullivan said it was a high-quality showcase of finals footy. “We got off to a pretty good start, our mids did well to give us good service, and we were teaming well together,” he said. “In the end, Myrtleford came back really strongly, and we were just fortunate to hold on and win some critical moments. “Across the ground, we showed a lot of presence. “I thought Lochie O’Brien and Sam Murray led the way, they were really good, Charlie Thompson was good. “In the second quarter, we maintained some dominance there, but in the second half, they just came home strong. “They got some good looks on goal and converted their opportunities, and we had to steady the ship there. “I thought some of our guys did really well in those moments, like Jez Rigoni when he got moved down forward. “It was a good overall, even performance.” The Rovers are on their way to the last day of the season, a testament to their quality throughout the entire year. “Obviously there’s been a lot of hard work throughout the whole season,” Sullivan said. “Sam’s put in a huge effort with the other coaching staff to keep the team sharp, and give them the opportunity to go straight into the grand final. “We can nurse any niggles as we go into that last game, it’s going to serve us well. “It was a really tight game, a high-pressure game, and it was a really strong hit-out, so I think that’ll serve us well coming into the grand final.” The Saints will meet Wangaratta Magpies in the preliminary final, after the ‘Pies stunned Lavington and the crowd with a kick after the siren to win in challenging conditions. Jackson Clarke was the hero for the Pies, launching the final goal to clinch the come-from-behind win 12.7 (79) to 11.12 (78). After a split opening term, the Panthers dictated play, roaring out to a three-goal lead by half-time. The Magpies persisted, but even the staunchest supporter of the black and white would’ve felt nervous with Wangaratta down by 11 points in the 25th minute of the final term. Some coast-to-coast play saw Xavier Laverty bring it to five points, and the midfield got to work. With seconds on the clock, a kick from Fraser Ellis found Matt Grossman, who launched to a pack in the forward line, and when the bodies settled, Clarke was holding the Sherrin. With the crowd braying and the siren sounding, from 30 metres out, Clarke kicked true and kept his team in finals contention.

Rovers are on their way to the big dance

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