Lancaster and Nagambie ready for Kyabram District League grand final

The Lakers left the 2010s with six flags and scalped this year’s minor premiership.

So, when the two sides do battle at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, a dynasty will either be born or revived depending on who walks off the park soaked in glory.

When Wombats coach Tom Davies entered the job in 2021 and subsequently lost a core group of players at the season’s end he laid the blueprint to make Lancaster a rusted-on finals contender for the rest of the decade.

So far, so good.

“One of the main points from when I took over was trying to create sustainable success and what that looks like ... being able to compete in that top tier year on year,” he said.

“Last year we were able to do that and this year we’ve been able to replicate that. It’s just about retention now and further developing kids that are coming through.

“We’ve developed from within, we’ve elevated some blokes who’ve mainly played reserves in the couple of seasons before and we’ve had some really good thirds kids who’ve come through.

“The potential is there, it’s just around retention and setting good standards and playing good footy.”

On the flip side Nagambie has slowly shaken the hangover of being the ’it’ team of the past decade.

The Lakers rounded out in fourth in 2021, seventh last season and worked their way to the top of the pile this year, but have been on the wrong side of the equation in each of their meetings with Lancaster.

The last was a four-goal semi-final loss a fortnight ago, a performance coach Tyrone Muir is hell-bent on fixing in the big dance.

“It was probably just our work rate which didn’t help us a lot,” he said.

“They outnumbered us a fair bit and just our use of the footy going forward as well. We probably wasted a few opportunities and that’s something we’re hoping to rectify on Saturday.”

The Lakers responded excellently in their do-or-die preliminary final against Shepparton East.

A convincing 11.7 (73) to 6.6 (42) display had Muir buoyant his side is touching prime form leading into the biggest game of the season.

“Especially in the first half, we used the footy a lot better going forward which made a major difference,” he said.

“It’s something we’ve really been concentrating on for the majority of the year because we get plenty of opportunities, we’ve just got to make the most of them.

“Some of our defensive spread (as well), we restricted Shepp East to four scoring shots at half-time, so our ability to close them down when they were attacking as well was really pleasing.”

He labelled Lancaster the “benchmark“ team, but the admiration is mutual as Nagambie was given reciprocal praise from Muir’s counterpart.

“I’m confident that our best footy is good enough, but obviously Nagambie proved last week why they were the minor premier,” Davies said.

“They’re a really good side, the weather and the ground suit the way they want to play the game.

“We played them a couple of times this year, we sort of know who their main operators are. It’ll just be about trying to get momentum early and trying to capitalise.”

· Both coaches said the entire arsenal of players were at their disposal with no injuries.