Gallery | Avenel reserves fall at final hurdle to miss out on perfect season

By Aydin Payne

Sep 19, 2022

Rough and tumble: Avenel’s Tylah Long and Lancaster’s Sam Jackson tussle it out in the KDL reserves grand final. Photo by Megan Fisher

Avenel’s hopes of a Kyabram District League reserves premiership and perfect season came to a crushing end on Saturday afternoon, falling to Lancaster by 44-points in a stunning grand final upset at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The Swans had been the clear pace setter for the entire season, winning every game in the lead up to the grand final, and entering the decider an overwhelming favourite to bring a coveted piece of silverware.

But the Wombats had other ideas, lapping up the torrential conditions to deliver a comprehensive 10.11 (71) to 4.3 (27) triumph.

The victory saw Lancaster claim its second reserves flag in seven years and hand Avenel a second-straight grand final defeat.

Come on, ump: Avenel’s Mason Vearing appeals for a free kick at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve. Photo by Megan Fisher

Led by contested bull Daniel Foley, the Wombats got the jump on the Swans in the second quarter, and once they held a 34-point buffer at the main break, you could sense the Wombats had both hands on the silverware.

Lancaster playing coach Brad Tinning said he backed his charges into fire at the coalface as the game became contested.

“Finals footy is a completely different game,’’ Tinning said.

“We knew we could do it, it’s a pretty unreal feeling.

“(The wet weather) certainly helped us.

“We played a bit of chaos footy, we don’t mind it being scrappy and wet under foot.

“I back the boys in to win the contested ball nine times out of 10.

“The rain definitely helped us in the long run.”

Tinning was proud of the efforts of his playing group and spoke highly of Foley’s heroics.

“We got the bulls in there with the likes of Danny Foley, Matty James, Rob Salter and Tim Strapp, they got it going for us and were the engine room,” he said.

“Danny has got a big engine and he was unreal.

“He’s always fierce at the footy.

“Joe (Jackson) was unreal, the whole back six as well played well.

“The twos set the tone, so hopefully the ones can get up now.

“Hopefully, it’s a bit of an omen for them.”

It turned out to be the perfect omen for the senior outfit as the side clinched a memorable 10-point win against Murchison-Toolamba.