Great Southern Storm colts finish fourth in Landmark Country Football Championships after playoff loss

Great Southern Storm have finished fourth in the colts division of the Landmark Country Football Championships after losing their final playoff to Regional Districts by 16 points at Bendigo Bank Stadium this morning.

In the playoff for third and fourth, Regional Districts kicked the first two goals of the game but were challenged twice by a sore and wounded Storm outfit.

After conceding the first two goals the Storm rallied as majors to Braden Retallack and then Taj Williams had their side back on level terms nearing the break.

But a costly defensive error allowed Brayden Blackham to boot a third Regional Districts goal inside the final 30 seconds as his side took a six-point buffer into half time.

Young gun Tom Baldwin sat out the majority of the carnival but he returned in the final and sharked a clever goal from close range to start the second half as Storm levelled up once again.

Regional Districts though kept responding as they kicked two goals in quick succession to establish a lead once again.

A freak kick out of mid-air from Williams gave the Storm a late sniff but they were running out of time in the shortened game.

A goal to Jaxon East and then a strong mark and set shot from Mitchell Blakers ensured Regional Districts prevailed, 7.2 (44) to 4.4 (28).

Brandon Woods was terrific for the Storm along with Jaike Dale, Corey Hitchcock, Jayden Scott and Baldwin but they were unable to replicate last year’s effort of reaching the grand final.