A gallant Orbost Snowy Rovers pushed competition boom side, Lucknow right to the wire in round one of the East Gippsland Football Netball League 2024 season last Saturday at Lochiel Park.
Lucknow introduced high profile recruits, Andrew Nelson, Nicholas George, Zac Smith, Jessie Pescod and John Gooch while welcoming back Jake Green, who was busy all afternoon after kicking the opening goal of the match.
With the influx of high player point recruits, Magpie coach Shaun Mooney was forced to watch from the coaches’ box with itchy feet.
It certainly doesn’t look like an isolated instance with another big name, high point player, Bayley Croucher looking a certain inclusion when fully recovered from an ankle injury.
Lucknow was out of blocks quickly with players like Green, Smith, Jack Saulle and George running rampant in the first quarter.
Trailing by 23 points at the first break, Orbost looked likely to be blown away by a side high on top end recruits, but the Blues rallied and willed themselves back into the contest, tackling hard and making the Magpies earn every possession.

IMAGE: Lucknow’s Glen Perkins flies high during its match against Orbost at Lochiel Park last weekend. Lucknow kicked off its 2024 East Gippsland Football Netball League season by beating the Blues, coming out on top by 12 points.