Heartbreak for Bombers on the HDFL’s biggest stage

Amid cloudy conditions at Strauch Oval in Huntly, both sides had strong supporters cheering from the sidelines, willing each team to achieve immortality.

The first term was hotly contested, with both teams looking to get a leg up early. However, the Demons dominated possession and walked into the first break with four goals and three behinds.

Meanwhile, the Bombers had an adjustment period to start the contest but got the ball rolling, bagging a pair of goals and behinds to trail by 13 points at quarter-time. It was still anyone’s game.

The second period proved to be the most divisive for the contest as White Hills showed why it has been the dominant force in the HDFL this season, drilling five maximums and a trio of assists to put the Bombers on the back foot.

As well as asserting their dominance on the attacking end, the Demons were an iron wall in defence, quickly snuffing out any offense the Bombers midfielders and forwards could generate, holding them scoreless in the second quarter.

Down by 46 at half-time and with a premiership dream quickly fading away, the Bombers had to get something going or risk a blowout on the biggest stage.

With desperation now in every movement, the third term gave new life to L-G, who proved just how badly it wanted it.

Unfortunately, some unforced errors and lockdown pressure from the Demons meant two goals was all the Bombers could muster in a pivotal third quarter.

Conversely, White Hills’ chemistry shone through and a safe pair of hands in vice-captain Liam Bartels, who kicked eight majors, meant the Demons had a focal point for their attack.

White Hills matched its first-quarter total in the third, kicking four goals and three behinds to lead by 61 with a quarter to play.

L-G had a decision to make in the final term. It could give up or go out swinging against a seemingly insurmountable opponent.

The Bombers chose the latter.

It has never been L-G’s style to go out with a whimper, and in the fourth quarter the Bombers recorded their most productive period of play.

Stringing together some tidy ball movement and forward-50 pressure, L-G managed 2.4 to finish its 2024 campaign.

Sadly, it wasn’t enough to topple White Hills, who remained eerily consistent through the contest, kicking four through the middle and two on the outside in the final stretch to claim the HDFL flag, breaking a 36-year premiership drought.

Christopher Horman led L-G’s attack with two goals, while Fraser Buchanan, Blake Dye and Lachlan Sverns booted one apiece.

Horman was joined by Will Brereton, Jye Keath, Brady Hore, James Brereton and Bradley Green in the Bombers’ best.

L-G coach Shannon Keam was dismayed with his team’s performance in the grand final and highlighted losing the contest in the middle as the root cause of its loss.

“We didn’t do a great deal (on Saturday), to be honest. It was one of those games where nothing went right. It was a disappointing way to end our season,” he said.

“In the middle of the ground, we got beaten in that contest pretty convincingly. White Hills were more proactive around the stoppages than we were.”

Yet, as he reflected on the 2024 season as a whole, Keam was satisfied with how far his side and the club had come and was excited for the year ahead.

“I think there will be good retention for next season within our group and we’ll be able to get on the front foot there and get a couple of extras through the door to fill some gaps and have a bit more depth in our squad for next year,” he said.

“We’ve made massive inroads this season as a footy club, not just as the seniors. Obviously we are all disappointed in our grand final performance, but as a whole, we are super happy.”

Despite the loss, the Bombers’ resurgence into the top echelon of the competition in 2024 will put a spring in their step as they look forward to 2025, when they will undoubtedly be flag contenders.