BARNAWARTHA overcame a six-goal half-time deficit to emerge three-point victors against Chiltern in a thrilling Laracy Shield derby at Barnawartha on Saturday.
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Young forward Rhyle Transom was thrown into the ruck in the third quarter after Chiltern’s Jaise Coleman dominated the first half.
Coleman had given his midfielders first use and sparked the Swans to five unanswered goals before the main break.
The Tigers looked down and out, reduced to just one on the bench on a warm afternoon.
But coach Mark Sarau’s move to put Transom into the middle was a masterstroke, with the youngster’s leap and athleticism troubling the Chiltern ruckman and powering his team to three quick goals.
“It was a brave effort against a side that will be very hard to beat as the season goes on,” Sarau said.
“Once Transom went into the ruck and we got a couple of quick goals, we went from being a long way back to winding in a fairly manageable deficit.
“The game swung our way after half-time and we knew if we could hold onto it in the final quarter we’d be a chance to win.”
The Tigers started five players from their 2014 under-17 premiership team in what Sarau said was a risky move.
“You never quite know what you’re going to get from young players, and having five on the ground wasn’t necessarily what I would have wanted ahead of round 1,” he said.
“But they were all fantastic.
“Josh Star, Oscar Ebert, all of them rose to the challenge and were important inclusions.”
The only sour note for the Tigers was an injury to Danny Demarte, who suffered 30 facial fractures in a collision late in the first half.
Sarau rued an injury curse the club had been under, but hoped to put it behind them with the likes of Stephen Bradshaw set to return from injury soon.
James Breen was dominant for Tallangatta as the Hoppers opened their 2015 account with a 19-point victory over Yackandandah.
Breen kicked five goals and had great support from Mitch Maddock (three), Brent Hibberson and Tim Brook (two each).
Trent Castles bagged six for the Roos.
It was raining goals at Wahgunyah, as the Lions ran out 26-point winners against Rutherglen.
It was an old-fashioned shootout as Nick Brockley kicked 11 goals for the Lions, while Tom Marlow snared eight for the Cats.
Beechworth kicked 17 unanswered goals in the first half on their way to a 157-point massacre of Wodonga Saints at Beechworth.
Dylan Pritchard booted 11 majors for the Bushrangers.
