HE may have slipped from top rung on Moyhu's pecking order this year, but Jaimon McGeehan proved his value by single-handedly getting the Hoppers into the grand final on Saturday afternoon.
McGeehan's three final term goals followed three quarters of dominance through the middle and half forward he was the chief instigator in Moyhu's 27-point preliminary final win over Benalla All Blacks.
All in all, it wasn't the greatest of spectacles, but that won't bother the Hoppers faithful, who were in full voice as their team answered every challenge the Panthers threw down.
Conditions didn't suit Benalla's big forwards, but in many respects the Panthers were their own worst enemies.
Benalla's luckless run with injuries continued when key defender Tony Evans left the ground with a broken arm in the opening term, but even more telling was the Panthers' lack of discipline at crucial stages.
It was blowing a gale to the Great Alpine Road end, and while the Panthers took advantage of the wind early on, they threw away their hard work in the dying stages of the quarter, handing the Hoppers two goals from free kicks within 20m.
As a result Moyhu led by a goal at the first change, and Benalla would be playing catch up for the remainder of the day.
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
Last Modified on 13/09/2011 12:43