Duncan demolition as Avenel outstrips Dookie

By Meg Saultry

Aug 21, 2019

Avenel continues to do everything it can to put itself in prime position ahead of the Kyabram District League finals, with its 72-point win against Dookie United on Saturday its 11th win on the trot.

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The third-placed Swans have only lost two matches this season, against top two sides Tallygaroopna and Nagambie.

After two tight matches against Merrigum and Violet Town before last week's bye, Avenel came out and showed why it was a true flag contender.

“I was really proud of our aggression around the contest and our attack and pressure,” Avenel playing coach Kasey Duncan said.

“We were playing the footy we wanted to and we were creating plenty of space going forward.”

Duncan, who returned from two matches on the sidelines, was at his dangerous best up forward, kicking 10 goals straight to lead his team to victory.

“Kicking straight doesn’t hurt,” he said of his team’s 21.5 scoreline.

“I was able to get some space.

“We wanted to isolate those one-on-ones."

The first minute of the match served up some adversity for the Swans though, with the returning Sam Durnan going down with another hamstring flare up. And with a second teammate suffering a head knock, the Swans were down to just one on the bench.

But Duncan said the team fought hard and put in a strong four-quarter performance, despite the lack of legs.

With Durnan out early, Lachlan Watts was called upon, moving from centre half-forward down to the back line.

“Lachie was able to cut balls off, he had a lot class off half-back,” Duncan said.

Another to impress was Angus Durnan, who also returned to kick four goals.

“(Angus’) workrate is unbelievable and the way he works, he is a constant option,” Duncan said.

Kyle Maynard also returned to the Swans' line up and added class through the midfield, while Braydon Avola and Jack Myers again put in strong performances.

Avenel will have one more match to fine tune its game ahead of finals and while top two is likely out of the question after Nagambie’s win against Tallygaroopna, the Swans will be itching to better its 44-point win against Violet Town from round 15 when the pair faces off again in the final home-and-away round.

The match will again have plenty of class returning to the side, with skipper Michael Tinkler back, alongside Michael McKenzie and Nick Goodwin, while Michael Morgan is a potential inclusion.

And with the Towners taking it right up to the Swans this month, the red and white contingent will be looking to replicate the effort and accuracy it displayed against Dookie.

Final score: Avenel 21.5 (131) def Dookie United 8.11 (59)

Goal Kickers: K. Duncan 10, A. Durnan 4, J. McDonald 3, H. McLean 2, G. Davies, B. Avola

Best Players: L. Watts, K. Duncan, M. Berry, K. Maynard, B. Avola, J. Myers

• Avenel’s twos regained its top of the ladder title with a 94-point win against Dookie United, after Tallygaroopna dropped its game to Nagambie.

Avenel kept Dookie United scoreless in the middle two terms, with Josh Carrafa and Rhys Saultry judged the Swans' best, with Jake Sutherland also prominent with seven goals.