The Hawks stunned ladder-leader Waaia at home on Saturday, handing the Bombers their first home and away season loss in more than two years – Waaia’s previous regular season defeat being in round nine 2024.
While the full time scoreboard in round 11 reflected a significant margin of defeat for the Bombers, 10.10 (70) to 5.3 (33), the Hawks were made to grind out a slog, gradually growing the lead away from Waaia throughout the contest.
The opening term saw Barooga lead by five points, before holding Waaia to one behind in the second quarter, allowing for a 13-point extension of the lead to three goals.
A three-goal-to-two term was enough to extend the margin to 26 points, the Bombers requiring five goals unanswered to avoid their first blemish of the season, but the Hawks would produce another three goals to two quarter to leave the visitors with no song to sing for the first time in 2026.
Barooga coach Jeremy O’Brien said four quarters of intent and high-pressure football was what allowed the Hawks to limit the quality of Waaia on Saturday.
“It showed us when we turn up and play well we can beat anyone,” O’Brien said.
“We repelled plenty of attacks, but the tackling pressure across the ground is something we hadn’t done for four quarters this season, which is what you have to do to beat a side like Waaia.
“It opens up top four aspirations for us, but in terms of where we’ve come from we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves and if we can play finals that would be awesome for the club.”
There were many other landmark results in the football too in a jam-packed weekend for the league.
Katandra now remains the only unbeaten side after trouncing Blighty by 103 points, while reigning premier Katamatite suffered its third loss to Jerilderie in a thriller, the Demons scoring a 9.9 (63) to 8.8 (56) victory.
Strathmerton tallied a double ton against Mathoura in a win by 189 points, while the season’s first draw was recorded between Dookie United and Picola United.
United by name and by scoreline, Picola would rue ample shots on goal missed in the 10.12 (72) to 11.6 (72) tie.
Katunga celebrated its first win of the season, becoming the first of four previously winless clubs to get off the mark, the Swans defeating struggling Rennie by 13 points.
Deniliquin Rovers surpassed Tocumwal by 26 points and Berrigan toppled Tungamah by 23 in the other matches.
In the netball, Waaia beat Barooga 51-34, Tungamah smashed Berrigan 97-20, Katamatite cruised by Jerilderie 74-31, as did Katandra over Blighty 91-15.
Katunga edged the Hoppers in a thriller 37-33, while Dookie defeated Picola United 53-24, the Rovers rained on Tocumwal’s parade 40-32 and Strathmerton overcame Mathoura 40-24.
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