Two debutants who were ruled out last year with injury have written their name into O and M history by starring in the league’s seven-point thriller over Goulburn Valley.
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Jono Spina and Michael Bordignon played pivotal roles in a superb defensive effort to pip the visitors, 12.14 (86) to 11.13 (79).
“Our back six stood up really well,” co-coach Darrell Spencer said.
“Spina, (Michael) Duncan, (James) Saker, Bordignon, they were all fantastic.
“That was the one structure we didn’t have to play with too much all day.”
Matt Dussin and co-vice-captain Jack Di Mizio also starred in defence.
The O and M also owed its win to former AFL forward Michael Newton, GV’s inability to punish the home side after dominating possession in the second quarter and a crafty tactical move.
“They (GV) were playing a five-man forward line and they were rolling their extra (player) into the midfield,” Spencer said.
“They were dominating us around the stoppages and we were able to send Chris Hyde into the stoppages and it just nullified that and allowed us to get more control of the ball.”
Both teams went into the match missing at least 10 automatic selections, but the GV didn’t have a key forward like 194-centimetre Newton.
“They (O and M) had cleaner entries, being able to get a goalkicking forward in Newton, he proved a bit of a difference going forward,” GV coach Luke Morgan said.
After a scrappy opening 10 minutes, largely due to the pressure, the match settled into a cracking pace with the O and M’s Mark Whiley and GV captain Jason Cole dominating.
The teams went to quarter-time level, but the GV dominated the second.
When Steven Stroobants goaled, the visitors had a 10-point lead but they should have had a match-winning break.
“We had 39 inside 50s (to 20) in a half of football and if you have 39, you’re going really well,” Morgan said.
“But we weren’t able to put the score on the board through either ineffective use of the ball going forward or the targets not being there.”
Tom Johnson has kicked only two goals for Wodonga, but he landed his second, while Brad St John snared a belter.
Into the third, the O and M seized the momentum, but also failed to deliver the knockout blow.
When Ben Clifton swooped, the margin was back to five.
But with seconds left, Newton landed a 50-metre boomer for a 16-point break.
The GV responded with three goals, regaining the lead for the first time since the second term.
However, goals to Lach Howe and Ben Speight sealed the thrilling win.