LORNE has produced a typically physical brand of football to outmuscle South Colac on a day of high drama at Elliminyt’s Joiner Reserve.

The Dolphins claimed their first victory against the Roos since round seven, 2010 with a hard-fought 11.6 (72) to 7.9 (51) win played in front of a vocal, crowd.

Ryan Evans kicked five goals, mixing strength in one-on-one marking contests with a couple of expert pack marks, but was far from the only Dolphin to excel.

Daniel Hermans rucked all day, recruit Rod Waters was physical and the midfielders – Sean Smartt and Steve Oliver, among others – won plenty of footy.

Across the board Lorne had too much bulk for South Colac, but the Roos’ skills, especially coming out of defence, undermined their run-and-carry game.

The upset win overshadowed another talking point from the match involving Roo Tim Speirs.

Speirs received a yellow card shortly before half time for allegedly swearing, and copped a second yellow for an incident involving Kane Smartt early in the final term.

Under Victorian Country Football League rules, umpires must red card a player who receives two yellow cards, and the player can take no further part in the match.

But Speirs never saw red, and South Colac brought him back onto the field on the advice of the interchange steward.

He kicked a goal with his third touch before umpire Wayne Armstrong sent him from the field permanently, reversed the goal and called a ball-up at centre half forward.

South Colac coach Stephen Hammond said the umpires had reported Speirs, but the club couldn’t work out what for.

“Is it because he’s entered the field or because he got two yellow cards? We haven’t been told yet,” he said.

Hammond said the goal should have stood because the Roos followed procedure in ascertaining whether Speirs could come back on.

“That goal that they took off us, we would’ve been three goals down with five minutes to go and we’ve got a run on,” he said.

“I would’ve had someone else on who would’ve kicked that goal.”

South Colac played itself out of the match with poor disposal, although Jake O’Dwyer was superb and Shaun Harrington worked well around the ground against Hermans.

Josh Goonan was the pick of the backmen and was effective when shifted onto Evans, while Ben Cox had an influence wherever he went and kicked four goals.