NEW format, same result as Central Rivers defeated Sunraysia for a second year running in interleague play at the Swan Hill Recreational Reserve on Saturday.
While the margin of victory was nowhere near as great as last year’s 11-goal beatdown over the western rivals at the Mildura Sporting Precinct and was played in a basically Under-23 arrangement instead of the usual open-for-all format, coach Marcus Demaria was happy to notch up another win against the ‘Sunny Boyz’ on a fine day at the reserve and in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
“It was a good game of footy, a good spectacle, a competitive game played in good spirit,” Demaria said after the 14.21 (105) to 10.10 (70).
The Two Blues led all day but couldn’t quite shake off a dogged Sunraysia outfit until the waning minutes of the final quarter in an ebb-and-flow clash which saw both teams gain momentum in spurts.
“I thought they were great,” Demaria said of the visiting side.
“They were really good; competitive right to the end, their ball use was really good and their run, I thought they got us on the outside with their run.
“They gave everything, and it was probably in that last 10 minutes their pressure just dropped a bit.”
The margin could have been greater had the host side not been so profligate in front of goal, but Mallee Eagles forward Jacob O’Meara rose to the occasion scoring 8.2 to claim best-on-ground honours.
“Jacob was outstanding. He kicked eight goals two and we finished with 14.21. He was best for us,” the coach said.
“And our No 1, on-baller Ricky Monti, and Robby Rush, the blond-haired runner on the wing, was pretty good as well,” said Demaria pointing out a few of his side’s outstanding players in a fine all-round effort.
However, despite being allowed four ‘marquee’ players above the age of 23, the coach is not totally sold on the Under-23 concept.
“I am sitting on the fence with it,” he said.
“I like the aspect that it gives those younger players a real opportunity as we have seen today, but we’ve also had a lot of interest from open age players who were pretty disappointed on missing out.
“So that’s the other side and I guess we will miss that spectacle when you have got players who are in their prime, 26 or 27, and they really want to play. Pros and cons on both sides.”
Opposing coach Jacob Thrum was also neither a ‘yay’ nor ‘nay’ on the topic.
“A bit of experience and leadership, that certainly helps,” said Thrum.
However, the response from slightly more senior SFNL players when approached to line up for the green and gold for this encounter was lukewarm at best.
“Whatever format they choose next year, I think today was a really good sign and the overall brand of footy was super,” the co-coach, with Don Falvo, said.
“The boys had a really good crack.”
“Before the game we emphasised defensive intent and supporting your mate and I don’t think we can question the guys at all. They were really good for four quarters.
“They had us at arm’s length all day, but the boys didn’t give up and at three-quarter-time it was less than a three-goal game. We really wanted to get that first goal in the last quarter but, unfortunately, we didn’t, but that would have made it interesting.
“They got a couple late and the boys were out on their legs. The games are longer than SFNL games and the quarters were going for 28 minutes and that’s probably an extra five or six minute to what we are used to.”
Sunraysia’s best was big man Jai Hayward, but talented small forward Elijah Brown gave him a run for his medal with a five-goal performance.
Will the rivalry continue or would Demaria like to see Central Rivers take on other challenges in 2026?
“I’d like to play Sunraysia again (next year),” he said.
“You strike up relationships with the coaches and players and I think it’s a good concept. Hopefully it can continue.”
