In the end it was the Lakers that suffered the cruellest of ends to their 2025 campaign, going down by the barest of margins in a nail-biting 9.11 (65) to 9.12 (66) loss.
Despite giving up eight scoring shots to their six, it was the Lakers that led at quarter-time, with the inaccurate Tigers booting 2.6 while Nagambie was slightly straighter, kicking 3.3, to take a three-point advantage into the first break.
However, that advantage was flipped by half-time, with Rushworth finding the middle of the big sticks three times to the Lakers’ two in the second quarter, leaving Nagambie two points in arrears by the main break, with the contest shaping up to be an absolute thriller.
The Lakers forged ahead in the third term and, for the first time at an interval, managed to stretch the margin into double figures, with a four-goal-to-two third term ensuring they led by two straight kicks with a quarter to play.
But the giant-killing Rushworth refused to give up and, in a remarkable show of defiance, restricted the Lakers to two behinds in the final quarter, while putting 2.3 of its own on the board, including the winning point off the boot of Paul Vavlitis, to secure the one-point victory.
Mark Nolan once again led from the front for Nagambie, booting two goals as his side’s best, while Lucas McKinnon, Ryan Coll, Tyrone Muir, Tom Barnes and Josh Walker were also influential.
It is a brutal finish for Nagambie, with the Lakers having spent much of the season bouncing around the top four, but not all hope is lost, with both of the Nagambie junior sides still alive and well.
The under-18 Lakers won through to the grand final following an 11.5 (71) to 8.5 (53) victory over Murchison-Toolamba on Saturday, with Archy Harrison booting seven goals in a super performance.
In the under-15s, the Lakers will play Undera this weekend for a spot in the decider, having accounted for Violet Town in a thrilling 6.10 (46) to 7.3 (45) victory.
If they are victorious in the preliminary final, they will face a formidable Avenel outfit in the decider, with the Swans keeping Undera goalless in an 11.10 (76) to 0.5 (5) rout in the first semi-final at the weekend, with Caspar Leunig named best on ground and Blake Benham booting four goals in the win.
Netball
On the court, Nagambie’s premiership hopes remain with the C-reserve side, with the B-grade Lakers suffering a similarly unfortunate finish to the year as their senior football clubmates.
Despite a strong opening half that saw the Lakers lead for much of the contest, Merrigum responded to hit the lead in the last, and while Nagambie rallied and closed the gap, they fell just short, going down 45-46 in a nailbiter.
C-reserve continues to fly the flag for the club, having advanced to the grand final following a superb victory in the first semi-final at the weekend.
Facing an unbeaten Tallygaroopna at Longwood Recreation Reserve, Sarah Sanderson capitalised on the full-court work from her teammates to convert more than 50 of her side’s goals, with the Lakers claiming a sensational 53-48 victory to advance to the final day of the season.
Meanwhile Avenel’s season on the court has drawn to a close following the defeat of its C-grade side, with the Swans’ final side in contention going down 31-40 at the hands of Murchison-Toolamba on Sunday.
