Going to ground: Avenel’s Jack Myers and Murchison-Toolamba’s Leighroy Wellington contest the ball. Photos: Wayne Herring.
Stanhope claimed a nail-biting 8.5 (53) to 7.7 (49) win over Shepparton East on Saturday, issuing a reminder to the Kyabram District League competition the Lions are a genuine premiership contender.
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A low-scoring Indigenous Round thriller at Central Park very well could have gone either way, Stanhope coach Mark Patten said, with a Tom Campbell kick after the siren touched on the line by Stanhope, sealing a Lions win.
“It was a good finals-type of game — low scoring, no side giving each other an inch type of contest,” Patten said.
Going nowhere: Avenel’s Jack Smith is strongly tackled.
“I think they played more of an expansive brand of footy, they’ve got a good style of football with good spread from the contest.”
It wasn’t until the third quarter that the Lions managed to find some breathing room courtesy of a three-goal haul from Rhys Smith, but an Eagles resurgence in the last teed up a heart-stopping final quarter.
“We had to defend pretty hard, it was a bit of to-and-fro, they got out by a couple of goals before half-time then we got out by three in the third quarter,” Patten said.
“They (Shepparton East) had trouble with COVID and a few other things, they were down on personnel but you can only beat what’s in front of you.”
Riding a tackle: Avenel’s Jack Myers clears the pack.
Only four points was the difference in the end, the win pushing the Lions up to second with just four rounds remaining.
“The win gives us a bit of breathing space, we’re still at risk of not securing a double chance and we’re very conscious of the sides lurking in the background,” Patten said.
Ahead of a trip to table-topper Avenel next weekend, Patten said his side had shown incredible resilience in recent weeks, having dropped the first two games of its season.
“It’s been a terrific season, all of our contests have been hard games,” he said.
“After two games, we questioned how the season would go, but credit to the players and their mental strength, we’ve been able to string together a few wins.
Dishing it off: Avenel’s Jack Myers attempts to get it away before going to ground.
“We’ve just got to try and make sure we’ve got a fit list coming into finals, we’d like to be embedded in the top four to secure a second chance.
“Certainly in the short term we’ll try and take it right up to Avenel next week, they’re playing some great footy and are obviously very well-coached; they’ve got all the mechanics of a great footy side.”
The Swans strengthened their grip on top spot on Saturday, overcoming a resurgent Murchison-Toolamba outfit with an imposing 14.15 (99) to 7.10 (52) win at Avenel.
The hosts cruised out to a resounding 35-point lead at the main break, kicking six and keeping the Grasshoppers to just eight minor scores.
Lining it up: Avenel’s Kasey Duncan runs in.
Fearing a drubbing, the visitors came to life in the second, piling on a blistering five goals to get back to within touching distance.
But as all experienced sides do, the Swans managed to see the game out in commanding fashion, putting up six fourth-quarter goals to notch the side’s 12th straight win.
In other action on Saturday, Girgarre managed to survive an Undera scare with a narrow 15.11 (101) to 15.7 (97) win.
High flyer: Murchison-Toolamba’s Aidan Lloyd flies for a grab.
Roos’ playing-coach Damian Cupido led from the front with a blistering eight majors.
Fellow finals hopeful Dookie United also collected a much-needed win, albeit narrowly, overcoming a plucky Tallygaroopna 13.15 (99) to 13.10 (88).
Nagambie clings on to eighth spot after accounting for Longwood 32.21 (213) to 5.3 (33), while Merrigum remains just above the Lakers in seventh after running out 180-point winners over Rushworth.
Lastly, Lancaster and Violet Town went head-to-head in the sole Sunday fixture.
