Ovens and Murray has returned to AFL Victoria’s elite level with a 76-point pasting of a disappointing Western Region at Yarrawonga’s JC Lowe Oval on Saturday.
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It was a heavyweight against a lightweight and was almost decided within 10 minutes after nailing five goals before a strong crowd.
AFL Victoria will release its Community Championships rankings on Monday, but the O and M is expected to face long-time rivals Geelong after it fell to powerhouse Eastern by 42 points in the one v two match.
The O and M is scheduled to meet Geelong in the three v four fixture and given it’s the top-ranked country game, it could well be played at the MCG, like Goulburn Valley’s win over Ballarat on Saturday.
The Northern Football League will play Eastern after it toppled Mornington Peninsula Nepean by 40 points.
MPN will now play Goulburn Valley in the five v six game.
The O and M’s win continues its resurgence at representative level.
The league has now won four of its last five games.
The O and M has long rated itself as a powerhouse of country football, but since the format changed to include metropolitan outfits, this is its highest ranking.
“We all think we are in the best league in Victoria, but the numbers don’t say that,” captain Luke Garland said.
“This is the step in the right direction where it needs to be.
“The boys bought into everything that the coaches (Jon Henry and Brad Murray) wanted.”
We all think we are in the best league in Victoria, but the numbers don’t say that.
- Luke Garland
The O and M has met Geelong four times in the past 21 years.
The visitors toppled Geelong to claim the country title in 1997 and retained it with a Tim Sanson goal after the siren.
Geelong then won in 2004-05, the latter by a goal at its home base.