Pakenham Gazette |More than almost any other sport, footy has a real sense of theatre.
Inverloch Kongwak coach Ben Soumilas and younger brother Andy both played pivotal roles in the last game of the former West Gippsland-La Trobe Football League at Cora Lynn back in 2004. That day, they were wearing Garfield colours as the Stars – coached by Ben – defeated Warragul by five goals in the Western Division grand final.
On Saturday night, the Soumilas boys were back at Cora Lynn – this time in the gold, white and blue of Inverloch – for the first game of the new era of West Gippsland footy... the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition.
And the Sea Eagles made it a night to remember, toppling the three-time reigning premiers of the Ellinbank league, the Cobras, by six goals – 15.11 (101) to 9.11 (65) in front of a massive crowd.
It was the first community footy game played for four premiership points anywhere in Victoria this season, and the fans came from far and wide to soak it in. What they saw was a performance sure to put the league – at least in the early rounds – on notice.
In the stifling conditions, it was the visiting Inverloch that settled first – taking a 16-point lead into the first change. The Sea Eagles’ forwards had plenty of space to work into, and their elusive – and super fit – midfield gave them plenty of quality inside-50s to work with.
New Cobras ruckman Billy Thomas was outstanding in the centre for the home side and will clearly benefit from the changes to the third man up rule, but the Inverloch mids were just that much cleaner and more decisive – particularly by foot.
They backed their high-pressure game from the start, and knew any lapses could well see the powerful Cobras storm over the top of them.
