ORBOST Snowy Rovers, the merged entity of the Orbost and Snowy Rovers Football Clubs in the East Gippsland Football League, will hold a reunion today celebrating their premierships in 1967, 1977, 1987 and 1997.

Article first appeared: 25 August 2007   Herald Sun

The teams involved will include the 1967 Orbost Gippsland FL team, the 1977 Snowy Rovers EGFL side, the 1987 Orbost (seniors) and Snowy Rovers (thirds) EGFL sides and the 1997 Orbost thirds team.

The reunion will coincide with the Orbost Snowy Rovers-Lakes Entrance Round 18 match at Lochiel Park, Orbost.

Orbost and the Rovers beat Lakes Entrance on four of the five occasions to win the premierships that will be celebrated.

The premier and champion Orbost senior team of 1967 was in the middle of a golden era for the Busters in the Gippsland Football League. Orbost won flags in 1961, '62 and '65 before winning three on the trot from 1967-69.

Then football in the Orbost district moved into its most successful period.

Snowy Rovers Football Club was formed in the early 1970s. The Busters won in '72, Snowy Rovers claimed their first senior flag in 1973, then Orbost went back to back in 1974-75.

The 1977 Snowy Rovers premiership was their second of three in a row from 1976-78, all coached by Gary Voss father of triple Brisbane Lions premiership captain and Brownlow medallist, Michael Voss, who is a mascot in the team photo.

The dominance didn't end there, with Orbost winning in '79 and 1981 before the Rovers won an unmatched four consecutive flags from 1982-85.

The 1987 season was also one to remember for both clubs, with Orbost defeating Lakes Entrance for the senior premiership and Snowy Rovers taking the thirds flag.

The trend continued in 1997 with the Orbost thirds finishing the season as premiers and champions. Orbost senior sides won a flag in '96 and also '98 and '99 - the last senior titles for the town.

Orbost and Snowy Rovers merged in 2003.