Blues stun Cobram

Tongala led all match on the scoreboard in what coach Steve Hammond described as ‘‘a top team effort’’.

‘‘We kicked straight and had 7.1 on the board at half-time,’’ Hammond said.

‘‘Everyone did their job. We didn’t have a passenger.

‘‘We had six players out, including Cam Ilett, Jimmy Cullen and Jessie Johnstone, so that made it (the win) even better.

‘‘We also lost Brock McLean (ex AFL payer) early in the first term.’’

Hammond said the key players in the shock win where club stalwart Jordan Souter on the ball, Bailey Waasdorp in the centre, skipper Kyle Fitzgerald and winger Jack Hammond.

Fitzgerald held his own against former AFL player Jackson Trengove and Jack Hammond also had the better of a classy opponent.

‘‘They both had jobs on some very good players and were terrific,’’ Hammond said.

James Coulson has been a revelation since being moved to centre half-back and typified the efforts of his teammates with a determined display, while Darwin recruit Max Trigwell was the best of the forwards with a lively game on a flank.

‘‘But I don’t want to pick out players because everyone did their role really well,’’ Hammond said.

Hammond acknowledged that despite the win, Tongala’s path to the finals was still a tough one.

However, he is looking for another win this week at home against another final aspirant, Deniliquin, to boost that prospect.

Ilett should be a marquee inclusion for the Blues for this now vital game.

The Blues weren’t so lucky in the reserves and under-17s, with both contingents being put to the sword by the Tigers.

It took the reserves the better part of four quarters to get their only goal of the match, while Cobram laid waste, kicking 19.13 (127) to walk the visitors off the park.

While it was a similar situation for the under-17s, the young guns fared slightly better, but still lost by 83 points.

The final score was Tongala 2.2 (14) to Cobram 14.13 (97).