Shepparton East’s Thomas McClusky in action against Lancaster on September 7.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Shepparton East is into the Kyabram District Football League grand final after a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Lancaster.
Shepparton East’s Trent Baker.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Heading into the crunch preliminary-final clash at Tallygaroopna, both Eagles and Wombats fans knew a tight affair was on the cards.
For the first time in three seasons Lancaster will have no representation in any of the three football grades on Kyabram district league grand final day.
The sides' previous clash in round 16 resulted in a four-point win to Lancaster, one of the Eagles' only three regular-season losses.
Shepparton East’s Trent Baker sizes things up.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
That clash had seen the Wombats burst out of the gates to hold on to the final siren, and it looked as though history could be repeating when they took the first term four goals to one, with Adam Fichera the only Eagles to slot a major.
Lancaster's’ Nicholas Kellow has eyes on the prize.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
When Morrie Serra kicked his second of the game 13 minutes into the second quarter to give the reigning premiers a 33-point lead, the boys from Central Ave were looking down the barrel of back-to-back preliminary final eliminations following last year's loss to Nagambie.
Shepparton East’s Thomas McClusky.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Two late goals stemmed the bleeding somewhat as Lancaster took a 20-point lead into the main break.
The margin quickly blew out to 31 points minutes into the third quarter, but three Shepparton East goals set up an exciting nerve-racking final quarter at a packed Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve.
Shepparton East’s Shannon Campbell.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
After only one Lancaster goal in the first nine minutes, the chances would come in a flurry for both sides once the Eagles' Hysen Ismet kicked his first of the game to cut the margin to six.
The Eagles converted the chances for five fourth-quarter goals, but the Wombats will regret their inaccurate kicking. Despite having more of the ball, they could only kick two goals and six behinds in the most important quarter of the year.
Lancaster’s Morrie Serra.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
A three-minute burst between the 23rd and 26th minutes, resulting in three unanswered goals, came at the perfect time for Shepparton East, as they took the lead for the first time on the day.
Shepparton East’s Thomas McClusky is tackled by Lancaster’s Nicholas Ryan.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Unable to find a major in the dying embers of the clash, Lancaster would fall short by a point as the Eagles pulled off the greatest of comebacks to set a grand final date with Murchison-Toolamba.
It marks the first time the Wombats will not be represented in any of the KDFL grand finals in three years.
With the Eagles and Grasshoppers having played out a draw in their round 12 clash, next weeks match is shaping up to be a final for the ages.
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