Redlegs overrun Nagambie in Kyabram District Football League thirds grand final

Tallygaroopna hit the board first but Nagambie responded with the next five majors, providing spark and energy early with their speed on the ball.

It was a highly appreciated game plan for key forward Archy Harrison, who kicked three of the opening four for the Lakers, before Flynn O’Brien converted for Nagambie after multiple repeat inside 50 entries as the siren sounded for quarter time.

However, Tallygaroopna coach Trent Sidebottom was unfazed by the slow start, and knew his boys would begin to execute.

“I think the boys were just a little bit overawed at the start, took them a little bit just to calm down, but that’s all we addressed at the time,” Sidebottom said.

“At this level you can’t really go into too many tactics and try and save games, I just back the guys in to take the game on the whole 80 minutes because I think our best is good enough.”

Tallygaroopna snagged the first goal of the second term from a set shot to bridge the gap, as they began to stifle the Lakers’ previous run and carry.

Nagambie had flashes of its dare but was quelled each time at half back, as the game tightened up with pressure.

Nagambie held firm defensively despite persistent inside 50 entries from the Redlegs, as three behinds in a row avoided a sharp turn in the score.

However the Lakers’ attacking fluency had been completely quashed, and after a late bump led to a downfield free kick, plus a 50 metre penalty, Tallygaroopna scored a goal from the mouth of the sticks and were back within a kick at half time, 5.1 (31) to 4.3 (27).

The ball was hot early in the third as the game’s tightening scoreline raised the intensity around the contest, before Ashton Mellington slotted the first of the term for Tally to take the lead.

It kick started the Redlegs’ continuing run of momentum from the second quarter, as captain and eventual best-on-ground winner Jake Davidson, Aden Schreck and Caleb Hueston all goaled.

A further behind extended the margin out to a game high 20, and Nagambie, which seemed to have clinically dispatched Tallygaroopna in the early going, was now on the ropes itself.

But the Lakers weren’t going to roll over so fast.

Bottom-ager Xavier Bush delivered a huge team lifter before an incredible sell of the candy and unloaded punt off a step delivered an unbelievable follow-up goal for Nagambie thanks to the individual brilliance of O’Brien.

As the game entered three quarter time, Tallygaroopna held just an eight-point advantage, and a result for either side remained in the realm of possibilities - something either side may have not thought possible at various stages.

When it came down to the crunch, though, the Redlegs outran their opponent that had ironically been reliant on its running game early on.

Tallygaroopna peppered the goals early but were unable to capitalise, however repeat entries were piling pressure again on the Lakers.

A well-weighted kick inside 50 from skipper Hueston provided a set shot and stabilising goal for Mellington, before Bush replicated the same play for Nagambie, although Brodie Ballantyne was unable to finish the job.

The pendulum had swung in full favour for Tally halfway through the last, and as Luke Greig kicked a goal on the run from the centre clearance, it was party time for the Redlegs at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.

Bush and Ryan Ezard admirably fought to the bitter end with late goals, the latter Laker battling a cramp before and after the set shot, but Tallygaroopna tied up its loose ends to secure the flag, sent off on a high thanks to an Aiden Chaston goal at the buzzer to secure the 12.8 (80) to 9.3 (57) win.

“They’re a great bunch of blokes,” Sidebottom said, singing praises of the playing group.

“They’re going to be really important for Tally in the future.”