Avenel proved too good for Tallygaropna on Saturday, with the win all but ensuring the Swans will play finals football. Photos: Wayne Herring.
Avenel enjoyed a big day out on Saturday during round 16 of the Kyabram District League senior football competition, earning a mammoth win at the expense of Tallygaroopna.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Hosting the Redlegs at Avenel Recreation Reserve, the Swans were in red hot form from the opening ball up, going on to record a 20.19 (139) to 5.4 (34) victory, one which has almost certainly ensured they will be playing on into September this season.
Heading into the clash as the favourites given their status inside the top six, the Swans immediately made it clear that there would be no doubt about the result, recording nine scoring shots to two in the opening term, and if not for some inaccuracy, could have almost put the game to bed just as quickly as it started.
Still, Avenel led 4.5 (29) to Tallygaroopna’s 1.1 (7) at the first break, and by the main interval had secured a definitive gap, with the Swans having once more restricted the visitors to 1.1 for the term while piling on 5.3 of their own to stretch the lead to 48 points heading into the rooms, ahead 9.8 (62) to 2.2 (14).
Avenel’s Braydon Avola booted five goals in the win on Saturday.
Tallygaroopna did manage to rally somewhat as played resumed in the second half, recording its best return of the contest in the third term with two straight kicks, however, so too did the Swans, with a monstrous 7.2 for the quarter ensuring the lead ballooned out to 80 points at the final change, having cracked the ton on the scoreboard.
Swan Luke Furci was brilliant on Saturday, booting an equal game-high five goals.
By the time the final siren sounded, Avenel led 139 to Tallygaroopna’s 34, though another wayward term saw the Swans boot 4.9 in the final quarter, with the opportunity for a much larger margin going begging.
Regardless, coach Joshua Delaney will be thrilled with the performance from his troops, led by best afield Nathan Torney, while Chayse Thomson (one goal), Alex Crnko (three goals) and Jack Carroll weren’t far behind.
The Avola brothers, Corey and Braydon, rounded out the Swans’ best, the latter booting an equal team-high five goals alongside Luke Furci in what was a brilliant all-round showing.
Nick Jolly continued his fine season with another four goals on Saturday.
It is a big win in more ways than one, too, as the Swans now improve to 9-5 for the year to sit fifth, two wins ahead of seventh-placed Longwood (7-7) with 42 percentage points separating the pair, meaning that while still mathematically possible for them to miss, the Swans have all but ensured they will be playing finals football.
Around the grounds, Longwood’s loss to Lancaster has made it that bit harder for the Redlegs to make the top six, going down 11.5 (71) to the Wombats’ 24.16 (160), now a game behind Stanhope (sixth, 8-6) following the Lions’ 18.13 (121) to 6.10 (46) victory over Girgarre on the road.
Shepparton East comfortably accounted for Rushworth 18.11 (119) to 4.7 (31), Murchison-Toolamba claimed a 20.9 (129) to 10.7 (67) victory over Undera, while Violet Town was convincing in its 19.10 (124) to 8.25 (73) victory over Merrigum, all but ensuring the Bulldogs will be wooden spooners this season.
11°C