Shannon Aynsley went from full forward to half back in the last quarter of Saturday's preliminary final and along with Daniel Brock was the star of the upset win against Lancaster.
A coaching master stroke by Stanhope reserve grade mentor Shane Baker was the catalyst of his team’s meteoric rise from “making up the numbers” to Kyabram District League reserve grade grand finalist.
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Baker, who played most of his football in the Geelong district before joining Stanhope midway through the 2022 season, moved his team’s leading goalkicker to the half-backline in the final term with match-winning results.
Shannon Aynsley, who came into the game with 54 goals (fourth on the league goalkicking table), took three game-saving intercept marks and two of those launched scoring opportunities that led to the Lions’ eventual five-point win.
Team vice captain Aynsley had been playing second fiddle to another Lions forward, Daniel Brock, in the opening three terms and turned provider to the strong marking goalsneak in the final term.
Stanhope and Lancaster were tied on 42-apiece at three quarter time after the Lions had initially kicked with the wind and taken a nine-point quarter time lead.
Lancaster’s Jarom Owen Horn prepares for a ruck contest with Stanhope’s Falcon Taurua.
Lancaster, which has won the last two KDL premierships, responded with three goals of its own as vice captain Steve Grima kicked two of those and gave his team a nine-point lead at the long change.
Grima kicked his other two goals in the final term, the second which cut the margin to five points with a minute left on the clock.
Stanhope had led by 18 points only five or so minutes earlier when best on ground Brock had marked and goaled following an Aynsley inspired forward thrust.
While Brock was the match winner he could have easily been cast in the role as villain as he missed three shots on goal in the third term after dominating his Lancaster defensive opposition.
Brock finished with four goals, all in the second half, which doubled his output for the season.
Stanhope’s shock win was built on the back of not only Aysnley and Brock, but the work of the coach’s brother, Layne Baker, in the midfield.
Layne Baker had kicked 45 games in 12 reserve grade games before the weekend, having also appeared at senior level with the Lions on six occasions.
He went head to head with Lancaster ball winners Riley Williams, Bayley Lloyd, Andrew Pryde and captain Trent McNamara.
Josh Canny was one of the stars of the Stanhope win, kicking two important goals and contining his great finals form.
Baker had support from Josh Canny, who not only kicked two goals but spent time in the midfield alongside Brad Canny and Charlie Lloyd.
Coach Baker shared the rucking duties with Falcon Taurua, the pair up against Lancaster’s Jarom Owen-Horn for much of the afternoon.
Grima was Lancaster’s only multiple goalkicker for the game, a close checking Stanhope defensive unit ultimately getting on top of its quality opposition.
Nathan Oliver, who was a star at Under 18 level this season, offered plenty across half forward for the Wombats. He, half back Steve George and onballers Williams and McNamara were responsible for the other four goals.
It was, however, Brock’s marking power that should have put the result beyond doubt in the third term. Stanhope had seven more scoring shots and four of its five missed in the third term were from directly in front of goal.
Oliver McAuliffe took a string of intercept marks at half back when Stanhope was kicking with a strong wind in the first and third quarters of Saturday’s preliminary final at Tallygaroopna.
Oliver McAuliffe and Michael Orr, despite the exploits of Brock, did enough to be recognised for their work in the key defensive posts for the Wombats.
Cody Harrison and Jordan O’Neill also offered resistance to the physical nature of the Stanhope attack on the contest.
Ryan Cooper’s defensive work alongside Shannon Aynsley in the final term was one of the contributing factors to the Stanhope victory and here he evades the smothering attempt of Nathan Oliver.
