Gallery | Rushworth’s second win of the year headlines a busy Kyabram District League football round

The Tigers did not field a senior side in 2023, so no-one would’ve batted an eyelid if they didn’t get up all season.

But after Saturday’s 10-point victory over Undera, Rushworth coach Mark Wheatley was absolutely chuffed with how his side carried itself on a fabled day.

“I couldn’t fault our boys. We like to play a contested brand of footy and knew Undera would bring it,” he said.

“I felt that they would set themselves for that game thinking they could get the monkey off the back and get their first win, so I really wound our boys up about that and how they’d start.

“It was a pretty even contest up until half-time and then the third quarter we banged five or six goals and that was the buffer in the end.

“But (it was) a really consistent four-quarter effort from our guys, it was great.”

Rushworth stole a slim seven-point advantage at quarter-time, but the winless Lions swiped back to lead 28-25 at the half.

Then something clicked.

Wheatley’s address sparked a seven-goal frenzy in the third quarter, with Tigers hitting the scoreboard at will, leaving a hapless and helpless Undera in the dust after such a promise-filled half.

“I just felt we were a little bit flat-footed around the stoppage areas and started to get on the move a bit,” Wheatley said about his half-time talk.

“They were congesting the game up a fair bit, so I just said we need to get on the move and stop being so flat-footed, get in first to the ball and start using our skills that way.

“And they did that to their credit — I can give the group a bit of a poke at times and they respond really strongly, and they never say die. That’s what I’m really proud of.”

Rushworth eventually claimed a 10.9 (69) to 8.11 (59) result, banking win number two for the season.

Wheatley conceded that though the rebuild was certainly more of a marathon than a sprint, it's days like Saturday that makes it more than worthwhile.

“I have to keep reminding myself, we are seven games into a major rebuild of this club and the majority of our guys are seven games into their senior careers,” he said.

“In the off-season, we were coming from a long way back, but were really careful in the recruitment of our players.

“We wanted them to be able to play footy, but that was almost a secondary component of having a strong character.

“Is it plain sailing and a plain trajectory? No, there’s ups and downs, but we’re on the right track and building momentum.

“We’ve got some really good people in positions now both on and off the field and the buy in is really pleasing.

“Obviously we’ve been beaten and kicked for a long time and it’s just good to see some reward for effort with a whole bunch of people contributing to a cause that’s greater than themselves.”

At Avenel Recreation Reserve, the hosting Swans zipped past Nagambie in a memorable win in over the cross town rival.

Matthew Huy’s side led at every change, shooting out to a 14-point lead by the first quarter and building on it throughout the match to run out a 12.13 (85) to 7.7 (49) victor.

Lancaster’s unbeaten run was almost unravelled by the unlikeliest of candidates, Longwood, as the Wombats only just held on for a nervy two-point win.

After kicking a sole behind in the first term, the Redlegs rallied to shock the reigning premier, but were pipped at the post 6.10 (46) to 6.8 (44).

Elsewhere, Stanhope’s Tyson McKenzie kicked 11 goals as the Lions thrashed Violet Town by 155 points and Murchison-Toolamba bested Dookie United by 80 points.

And in Sunday’s games, Shepparton East defeated Tallygaroopna 15.15 (105) to 3.2 (20), while the Girgarre-Merrigum result was not available at the time of printing.