Yarrawonga livewire Jess Koopman handed O and M selectors a reminder of his prodigious talent with a career-best six goals in a 37-point win over Wangaratta.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Three of the goals were freakish efforts, including a miraculous mid-air kick early in the second.
Koopman wasn’t named in the original 42-man squad to play Goulburn Valley at Wodonga’s John Flower Oval on May 13.
“I didn’t get picked, but it doesn’t worry me,” Koopman said.
“I would have liked to play against the GV, it would have been a good battle, but things happen.”
Koopman was named in last year’s original squad, but didn’t attend training, therefore ruling himself out of contention.
“It’s good to hear Jess played well and we can still certainly add players,” co-coach Darrell Spencer said on his way back from a family commitment in Melbourne.
Koopman spent a year under Brendan Fevola in 2015 and his second-quarter goal had his former coach written all over it.
I would have liked to play against the GV, it would have been a good battle, but things happen.
- Jess Koopman
A Wangaratta player spilled the ball backwards just metres from the line but Koopman, somehow, snuck behind him and produced a karate-kick goal.
It was the type of goal few can kick and he also produced two blinders from near the boundary line. One in the third term was freakish.
O and M co-coach Jon Henry was at the game so he saw first-hand Koopman’s unique ability to manufacture goals from nothing.
The league will host its first training session at Wangaratta Rovers’ WJ Findlay Oval on Wednesday night.
Squad members Mark Whiley and Lach Howe impressed for Yarrawonga, while Josh Porter was busy for the Pies.
Given the O and M-GV rivalry, it’s the league’s biggest game in years.
