SCOREBOARD
Stanhope 5.5, 6.11, 12.14, 18.17 (125)
Avenel 1.0, 3.4, 4.5, 5.8 (38)
GOALS, Stanhope: J. Rennie 4, R. Smith 4, D. Keck 3, T. Rennie 3, J. Adamson 2, A. Young 1, J. Pearson 1, Avenel: A. Dowling 1, C. Caldow 1, D. Hoysted 1, L. Drummond 1, S. Kearney 1.
BEST, Stanhope: A. Lovison, J. Nesci, J. Adamson, C. Emmett, N. Hanneysee, D. Keck, Avenel: S. Kearney, J. Myers, L. Drummond, C. Ball, N. Goodwin, A. Dowling.
RESERVES
Stanhope 2.0, 5.0, 8.1, 10.4 (64)
Avenel 3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.5 (23)
GOALS, Stanhope: J. Fisher 3, D. Harrison 2, N. Chambers 2, A. Cooper 1, C. Lloyd 1, H. Wilkie 1, Avenel: J. McDonald 2, Z. Scicluna 1.
BEST, Stanhope: J. Chambers, D. Harrison, J. Leocata, J. Fisher, S. Baker, J. Mason, Avenel: N. Noonan, T. Cook, R. Carrafa, L. McKenzie, Z. Scicluna, S. Cresswell.
Stanhope has used the success of Kyabram district league powerhouse Shepparton East to get the jump on “low-confidence opposition teams” and is now sitting fifth on the ladder after losing two of its opening three games.
Coach Mark Adamson is an astute football judge and he was quick to identify that the Kyabram district league draw of 2023 had Stanhope pitted against teams that faced Shepparton East the week before.
Adamson said that could have worked in two ways, those teams could have come out of their match with Shepparton East with confidence or on a low.
As it turns out the Shepparton East team is unbeaten on top of the ladder and has dominated four of its opponents.
Stanhope will play Tallygaroopna this week after it suffered a 36-point loss to the Eagles.
Avenel lost by 51 points to Shepparton East a week before playing the Lions, who in turn beat the Swans by 87 points.
“The way that it unfolds is interesting. We are probably fortunate that we follow them (Shepparton East). They are not helping the confidence of our opponents for the following week,” he said.
A win this weekend against Tallygaroopna will maintain the Lions’ connection to the top four teams of the competition.
Stanhope could even be sitting fourth if it can overcome its sixth-ranked opponent, which lost by six goals to one of the two unbeaten teams in the league — Shepparton East.
It is an interesting round with another highlight being the match between reigning premier Lancaster (fourth) and unbeaten second-ranked Nagambie.
Stanhope’s fourth win of the season came after it kicked six opening-quarter goals and led by 29 points at the first break. After a two-goal-to-one second term from Avenel, the Lions kicked 12 second-half goals to two for a 18.17 (125) to 5.8 (38) win.
Adamson said assistant coach Adam Lovison had settled into the side and had produced two best-on-ground displays in the past fortnight.
“Centre-half back is his spot and has a lot of confidence. He would have had between 10 and 20 marks in both of our last two matches,” Adamson said.
“His form carries great weight. Our backline has settled a bit now, having played a few games together and moving Craig Emmett back into defence has also helped.”
Recruit Joe Nesci has also found form at the right time, while the Rennie Brothers (Jake and Tomas) combined for their best return of the year — kicking seven goals between them.
Adamson said the win was “miles ahead’’ of any other game his team had played.
“I didn’t know how many weeks it would take. I hoped that something like that would come, but we were due to do something,” he said.
Following the Tally game is a June 10 league bye, then the Lions face a much-improved Longwood before facing Shepparton East.
“We need to beat the teams around us, like Tally and Longwood,” he said.
Ruckman Daniel Flynn missed the game and will probably not return until after the bye.