Barooga football teams bounced back against Cobram on Saturday in front of a large crowd when all four sides posted victories against the Tigers at the Barooga Recreation Reserve. The eight netball results finished even with Barooga and Cobram winning four matches apiece.
Both junior footy matches were keenly contested affairs with the fourths kicking the icy frost off the ground on a brisk and cold morning. Foot and ball skills from both teams were good with each playing a very competitive brand of football. Jake Russell and Callum Leighton-Daly led from the front with both gaining lots of telling possessions to help set up the Barooga victory by three goals at siren time. Brendan Jack and Hary Foster combined well for Barooga. Jay Dunn and Logan Moreys return to the side after a week off proved to be just the tonic as both players are on-ballers who use the football very efficiently.
The thirds played a real arm wrestle with both sides attacking the ball fiercely. Inaccuracy in front of goal was also a parallel feature with forwards from both teams wasting opportunities. James Leechs height and mobility complemented by Hayden Atkinson-Thrings leg speed and ball carry were game breaking contributions. Josh McGaw, Tom Butler and Conor Ryan also proved to be reliable over the four quarters to enable Barooga to win a close one by eight points.
The Reserves was an even tussle until half time with only a goal separating the local rivals. Baroogas forward line began to look more dangerous after the main break with Simon Douglas (three goals) and Matt Nixon (two goals) giving Barooga key targets in the front half of the ground. Glen Elleray was one of the other key architects in the second half that saw the Hawks run out quite comfortable winners by 34 points.
The main game saw Barooga kick with the assistance of a slight breeze. Wasteful conversion was once again the order of the day with Barooga forwards spraying the ball when near the big sticks. Jamie Stanyer worked as hard and as consistently as any for four quarters with solid back-up from his defensive team mates, Tom Crapp, Keiran Hill and Ryan Forsyth. Cobram scored three goals in the second term but the Hawks hard running in this term saw six goals posted as Sean Harrap, Liam Ryan, Marcus Hastings and Brent Chapman shared the offensive load. After half time Matt Chapman also chipped into the action in attack and, but for wayward kicking, he could have bagged more than the four he finished with. By games end, the Hawks winning margin was 66 points.