Hosting the ninth-placed Lions at Avenel Recreation Reserve on Saturday, the Swans were made to work hard for the victory, with the lead never exceeding a kick either way at any of the breaks, before Avenel held its nerve in the final term to prevail 10.13 (73) to 9.11 (65).
From the opening ball up both sides were up for the fight, with the Lions, who prevailed over Longwood by a point last weekend, looking to keep their finals chances alive, while the Swans had the opportunity to cement themselves as the next best side behind the top four.
It would be the Swans that led at the first break, though only just, with both sides wasting chances in front of goal, though Avenel found more opportunity to enter the huddle up 3.4 (22) to Undera’s 2.4 (16).
The Lions have shown plenty of heart this season, and it was on display again on Saturday, as the visitors produced a resurgent second term, booting 4.2 to take the lead as the Swans kicked the opposite, their return of 2.4 seeing them go into the rooms at the main break staring down a 5.8 (38) to 6.6 (42) deficit.
What had been a brilliant contest to half time continued in the second, and with chances hard to come by, execution would begin to play a factor.
Continuing the trend of lead changes, the Swans managed 3.2 in the third term, putting their noses back in front, however the tight, tough nature of the contest ensured there was again less than a goal in it at the final change, as Undera kicked 2.1 to keep itself in the game with a quarter to play, albeit down 8.7 (55) to Avenel’s 8.10 (58).
It had been an entertaining clash to that point, and with five scoring shots each way in the final term, it continued to delight until the final siren.
However, it would be the Swans that managed to kick straighter when it counted, generating 2.3 to Undera’s 1.4 in the fourth quarter to claim a brilliant eight-point victory.
Chayse Thomson led the way for Avenel in the victory, booting a goal to be named best afield, while Alex Crnko wasn’t far behind, named second best with four goals to his name.
Braydon Avola and coach Joshua Delany rounded out the multiple goalkickers for the Swans with two each, while Alex Hywood kicked five majors to top Undera’s tally and Anthony Miller was named the Lions’ best.
The win is massive for Avenel’s finals hopes, too, with the fifth-placed Swans (8-4) now moving a game and a significant chunk of percentage clear of sixth-placed Stanhope, while they enjoy a two-game gap and even greater percentage margin over seventh-placed Longwood, meaning two wins from the remaining four games should all but sew up a September berth.
Conversely the loss is devastating for Undera, with the ninth-placed Lions’ (4-9) finals dream all but over, three games and percentage off sixth spot with only three games remaining given they are still to have a second bye.
Elsewhere, ladder-leader Nagambie claimed yet another big victory, this time dispatching Rushworth 18.13 (121) to 7.3 (45) at Nagambie Recreation Reserve, while second-placed Lancaster claimed a 16.13 (109) to 7.15 (57) victory over fellow top four contender Shepparton East at Central Park Recreation Reserve.
Reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba avenged its round two loss to Longwood with a 21.13 (139) to 15.6 (96) victory over the Redlegs at Longwood Recreation Reserve, while Tallygaroopna notched a 101-point win over Merrigum at Merrigum Recreation Reserve to remain in the finals hunt, triumphing 21.15 (141) to 6.4 (40).
The final game of the round saw Girgarre convincingly account for Violet Town, claiming a 16.11 (107) to 9.10 (64) win at Girgarre Recreation Reserve, the third victory of the campaign for the Roos.
