Nagambie's Luke Old flies in the ruck contest against Tallygaroopna's Jake Buckland.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Nagambie got off to a flying start in the Kyabram District Football League under-18s grand final, but despite the Lakers’ best efforts, were unable to hold on to the lead, ultimately going down to Tallygaroopna in an entertaining clash at Moroopna Recreation Reserve.
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After a promising start to the clash, the Lakers, who finished on top of the ladder with a 15-1 record, were overrun in the second half, succumbing to a red-hot Redlegs side to go down 9.3 (57) to 12.8 (80) at the final siren.
A fast-starting Lakers outfit stunned the Redlegs from the outset, with the red, white and blacks’ dashing defenders tearing apart Tallygaroopna on the counter-attack.
Tallygaroopna hit the board first but Nagambie responded with the next five majors, providing spark and energy early with their speed on the ball.
It was a highly appreciated game plan for key forward Archy Harrison, who kicked three of the opening four for the Lakers, before Flynn O’Brien converted for Nagambie after multiple repeat inside 50 entries as the siren sounded for quarter time, woth the Lakers ahead by 19 points.
Tallygaroopna snagged the first goal of the second term from a set shot to bridge the gap, as they began to stifle the Lakers’ previous run and carry.
Nagambie had flashes of its dare but was quelled each time at half back, as the game tightened up with pressure.
Nagambie held firm defensively despite persistent inside 50 entries from the Redlegs, as three behinds in a row avoided a sharp turn in the score.
Hunter Corfield pumps a long kick towards the Lakers’ forward 50.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
However the Lakers’ attacking fluency had been completely quashed, and after a late bump led to a downfield free kick, plus a 50 metre penalty, Tallygaroopna scored a goal from the mouth of the sticks and were back within a kick at half time, 5.1 (31) to 4.3 (27).
The ball was hot early in the third as the game’s tightening scoreline raised the intensity around the contest, before Ashton Mellington slotted the first of the term for Tally to take the lead.
It kick started the Redlegs’ continuing run of momentum from the second quarter, as captain and eventual best-on-ground winner Jake Davidson, Aden Schreck and Caleb Hueston all goaled.
A further behind extended the margin out to a game high 20, and Nagambie, which seemed to have clinically dispatched Tallygaroopna in the early going, was now on the ropes itself.
But the Lakers weren’t going to roll over so fast.
Bottom-ager Xavier Bush delivered a huge team lifter before an incredible sell of the candy and unloaded punt off a step delivered an unbelievable follow-up goal for Nagambie thanks to the individual brilliance of O’Brien.
As the game entered three quarter time, Tallygaroopna held just an eight-point advantage, and a result for either side remained in the realm of possibilities - something either side may have not thought possible at various stages.
Nagambie’s Harry Kelly watches on as the umpire gets ready to bounce the ball.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
When it came down to the crunch, though, the Redlegs outran their opponent that had ironically been reliant on its running game early on.
Tallygaroopna peppered the goals early but were unable to capitalise, however repeat entries were piling pressure again on the Lakers.
A well-weighted kick inside 50 from skipper Hueston provided a set shot and stabilising goal for Mellington, before Bush replicated the same play for Nagambie, although Brodie Ballantyne was unable to finish the job.
The pendulum had swung in full favour for Tally halfway through the last, and as Luke Greig kicked a goal on the run from the centre clearance, it was party time for the Redlegs at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
Bush and Ryan Ezard admirably fought to the bitter end with late goals, the latter Laker battling a cramp before and after the set shot, but Tallygaroopna tied up its loose ends to secure the flag, sent off on a high thanks to an Aiden Chaston goal at the buzzer.
