Only one match across the Kyabram District League’s round 11 slate was closely contested, as the competition’s top sides flexed their muscles against teams near the bottom of the ladder.
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Lancaster kept its perfect record intact by easing past Stanhope and Rushworth won a thriller against Violet Town, while Girgarre, Undera and Merrigum all fell to heavy defeats.
RESULTS
Round 11
Lancaster 2.4, 6.9, 11.16, 20.20 (140) d Stanhope 4.1, 6.1, 8.1, 9.3 (57)
Violet Town 2.4, 6.8, 8.12, 11.13 (79) lt Rushworth 0.1, 4.5, 9.7, 12.9 (81)
Murchison-Toolamba 4.4, 9.6, 13.10, 18.14 (122) d Girgarre 3.1, 6.4, 8.5, 9.5 (59)
Undera 2.1, 3.3, 5.4, 8.4 (52) lt Shepparton East 2.4, 7.7, 11.9, 15.13 (103)
Avenel 8.6, 16.11, 19.15, 26.16 (172) d Merrigum 0.0, 3.1, 4.1, 5.3 (33)
Tallygaroopna 0.0, 0.0, 1.2, 1.2 (8) lt Nagambie 7.5, 14.12, 20.16, 29.20 (194)
Longwood bye
Lancaster produced an exceptional second half to cruise to an 83-point win over Stanhope, the Wombats prevailing 20.20 (140) to 9.3 (57).
The visiting Lions more than held their own in the first half at Lancaster Recreation Reserve, despite being the underdogs.
Stanhope edged the first quarter 25-16, and although Lancaster responded strongly in the second term to take a 6.9 (45) to 6.1 (37) lead into half-time, the Lions were well in the contest.
But the Wombats are seemingly on a mission this year, and proved as such after the main break, starting in the third quarter, when Lancaster booted five majors to Stanhope’s two, increasing its lead to 33 at three-quarter time.
With percentage coming into play to split the Wombats and Nagambie at the top of the ladder, winning big is of high priority for Lancaster, which saved its best period of the match for the fourth quarter.
Nick Ryan’s side rained down nine goals in the final term to Stanhope’s one, confirming a sixth win this season by 80 or more points.
Lancaster had an impressive 10 different goal-kickers on the day, with Luke Davies (four), Jamie Scapin (four), and Morrie Serra (three) leading the way.
Davies, Sam Vick, Zac Cerrone, Ryan Hatch, Matthew Fleming, and Thomas Davies also made the Wombats’ best, while Lior Smart, Tyler Norman, Corey Dunn, Brett Smith, Stuart Trevena, and Tomas Fantasia were on Stanhope’s list.
The loss was a setback for the Lions after their big win over Tallygaroopna, but they have a favourable fixture against Violet Town next, Stanhope still hovering outside the finals spots.
Meanwhile, first hosts second this weekend when Nagambie welcomes Lancaster for arguably the most anticipated clash in the competition this season.
Violet Town vs Rushworth
Rushworth’s topsy-turvy campaign continued at Violet Town Recreation Reserve, the Tigers again following a loss with a win by edging the Towners 12.9 (81) to 11.13 (79).
Mark Wheatley’s side — favoured against the side second-bottom of the ladder — needed a strong third quarter to work itself back into the game after a sluggish first half.
The Tigers booted five goals to two in the period, a key stint that put them up by a point heading into the fourth quarter.
Earlier, Rushworth was kept to just a single behind in the first term, and although it improved with four majors in the second, Violet Town matched that total to lead 6.8 (44) to 4.5 (29) at half-time.
The Tigers still needed to produce in the final quarter to seal an important victory, and did just enough, kicking 3.2 to 3.1 and holding on for a dramatic two-point win.
Rushworth vice-captain Nico McKinley was in top form with three goals on the day, and he was also named in the Tigers’ best alongside Ryan Prout, Nicolas Collins, Brad Canny, Tighe Clarke, and Isaac Griffin.
Still eighth, Rushworth needs to find consistency if it is to move into the finals places, having alternated between wins and losses over its past seven matches.
The Tigers will serve a bye this weekend.
Murchison-Toolamba vs Girgarre
Despite a competitive first half, Girgarre fell heavily to reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba, going down 18.14 (122) to 9.5 (59) at Murchison Recreation Reserve.
The match slipped away from Girgarre after half-time when the Grasshoppers extended their lead to 35 points heading into the fourth quarter, built off a four goals to two third term.
The Kangaroos only trailed 9.6 (60) to 6.4 (40) at the main break, having only lost the first quarter 28-19 before kicking three goals to Murchison’s five in the second, to keep themselves in the contest.
With only two wins this season, Tyler McNamara’s side wasn’t expected to pull off a miraculous comeback in the final term.
Instead, the Hoppers used the period to secure a percentage boost, booting five majors to one and running out as 63-point winners.
Josh Hayes and Ethan Palma-Ludeman were Girgarre’s two multiple goal-kickers in the loss, with Hayes, McNamara, Joseph Jackson, Ben Turpin, Jorge Maxwell, and Jack Dunn named as best players.
The 10th-placed Kangaroos can use their first half performance as inspiration for this weekend’s meeting with ninth-placed Tallygaroopna, Girgarre looking to snap a four-game losing streak.
Undera vs Shepparton East
Shepparton East gradually pulled away from Undera at Undera Recreation Reserve, the Lions not having enough to keep up with the Eagles in a 15.13 (103) to 8.4 (52) loss.
Undera started well in a match it wasn’t favoured in, matching Shepparton’s goals tally in the first quarter as the sides booted two apiece.
The visitors started to pull away during the second term, as the Lions could only manage one major in the period to the Eagles’ five, Undera trailing 3.3 (21) to 7.7 (49) at half-time.
Glenn Hart’s side needed a strong third quarter if it had any chance of overturning the deficit, but Shepparton had other ideas, laying on a four goals to two term to run up the margin to 41 heading into the fourth.
Though the four points were lost, Undera finished better in the final quarter, which it only lost 28-18, though the Lions still fell by a significant margin of 51 points.
Alex Hywood, Rory Carlile, Zach Langlands, Lucas Young, Deakin Easterbrook, and Jack Millar were the home side’s best on the day.
Undera faces Merrigum next this weekend, where it will be favoured to notch a third win of the season.
Avenel vs Merrigum
Merrigum was thwarted from the off in a heavy defeat at Avenel, the Swans cruising to a 26.16 (172) to 5.3 (33) win at Avenel Recreation Reserve.
The Bulldogs’ chances of recording a first win of the season immediately took a blow in the opening quarter, when Avenel kicked 8.6 and kept Merrigum scoreless at the other end.
Another eight goals followed for the hosts in the second term, while the Bulldogs finally hit the scoreboard, but were still well out of the contest, trailing 16.11 (107) to 3.1 (19) at half-time.
Merrigum added another two majors to its score in the second half, but was unable to halt the Avenel avalanche.
The Swans — in the thick of the finals race —kicked another 10 goals across the third and fourth quarters, running out as 139-point winners, their biggest margin of victory this season.
It was also Merrigum’s fifth defeat by 100 or more points in 2026.
Jason Verhoeven’s side will aim for a more competitive outing in its aforementioned clash with fellow strugglers Undera this weekend.
Round 11’s only other game saw Nagambie respond to its first loss of the season in devastating fashion.
The Lakers held Tallygaroopna scoreless for the entire first half, posting a massive 29.20 (194) to 1.2 (8) win at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve.