HOLBROOK has stunned reigning premier Henty by seven points to emerge as a dangerous wildcard in the Hume league finals race.
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Leading by 13 points at the final change, Brett Doswell’s charges were able to hold their nerve in a tense final quarter with only three goals being scored.
The 9.16 (70) to 9.9 (63) win was the most significant of Doswell’s tenure and propelled the Brookers to seventh on the ladder and only percentage behind sixth-placed Henty.
The loss poses serious question marks on the Swampies’ top-two credentials.
In a worrying sign the Swampies kicked only four goals after quarter-time and sorely missed centre half-forward Shannon Terlich with a shoulder complaint.
Terlich is arguably Henty’s most important player with the Swampies often struggling in his absence.
Doswell said he wasn’t surprised by the Brookers upset victory.
“I thought we were a chance, especially with Shannon Terlich being out for them,” Doswell said.
“We had been playing some decent football in patches but just hadn’t been able to string four quarters together so far this season.
“All the young guys really stood up on the weekend which is a promising sign for the future.
“They showed a lot of maturity, especially in the last quarter after the Swampies kicked the first goal to get within six points.
“They really stood up.”
Fullback Dylan Fairall was a tower in defence winning a host of contested possessions, especially in the final quarter.
Ruckman Sandy Hamilton was also instrumental late in the game dragging down several towering marks in defence and repelling the Swampies’ forward thrusts.
Doswell, Lachie Trethowan and Josh Jones were other four-quarter performers for the Brookers.
In other matches Rand-Walbundrie overrun Lockhart by nine points after trailing by 10 points at the main break with Aaron Gordon, Jake Gumley and Nick Cibiras leading the fightback.
Osborne proved to strong for Walla, winning by 30 points.