The Wombats headline act in the club was multiple-Kyabram premiership coach Paul Newman, who played his first game for the club and kicked four of its six goals.
In the 2022 grand final Lancaster beat Murchison-Toolamba by 10 points, in a game where only 11 goals were scored and a total of 82 points.
Against Longwood on Saturday there were just 12 goals kicked and the total combined scores of the two teams was 90 points - Lancaster winning 6.10 (46) to Longwood’s 6.8 (46).
Longwood sits ninth on the ladder and Lancaster second, but rain soaked Lancaster Recreation Reserve levelled the playing field and suited the low-to-the-ground midfield combination of Jordan and Jye Formosa.
The brothers combined with key forward Zane Vukcevic (four goals) to almost pull off the biggest upset of the season.
It was, however, Paul Newman who stole the show as he kicked his first goal from the top of the goalsquare after a strong mark, then added a second with a snap, a third from a mid-air kick and his last was from another set shot.
Wearing the unobtrusive number 37 on his back, Newman was playing only his second game of football this season. Only two weeks again he played with Kyabram in a reserve grade game where he kicked a handful of goals against Tatura.
The champion forward has kicked almost 900 goals in his career and in his last full season, with Murray league club Tongala in 2015, he kicked 113 goals in 18 games.
The previous seven seasons he kicked an average of 70 goals a year with Kyabram in the GVL competition.
Newman arrived at the club courtesy of a close connection to the Ryan family, working with ruckman Nick and former player Billy at M&S Insurance.
His father, Dave Jnr, also played with the club in the late 1980s.
Newman will play the rest of the season with the Wombats, who in the next few weeks play second bottom Violet Town, Girgarre (12th) and Dookie United (10th).
Lancaster led by 22 points at quarter time on Saturday, having eight scoring shots to Longwood’s one. The margin was still 13 at half time and stretched to 19 at the final break.
The Wombats missed five shots on goal in the final term, while Longwood kicked three goals and charged home to finish just three points shy of its third win for the season.
Zac Cerrone was best on ground in the win, with Noah Sewell and proven mud-runner Cameron Simpson also among the best.
Logan Demasi continued his wonderful defensive season, while ruckman Coby O’Neill continues to hold up in the absence of Nick Ryan. Ryan will have served his grand final suspension in three weeks time.
Another set of premiership players, Ricky Thomson and Phil Carroll, are due back next week and following the June 8 bye Morrie Serra, Matt Fleming and Tim Strapp are also expected to be available.
– Despite the wet weather Lancaster’s reserve grade team won its game by 77 points, Steve Grima taking his goalkicking tally to 17 from six games with four.
He had support from Luke Rennie (three goals), while Jordan O’Neill and Brad Phyland were other good players.
– Declan Hallett pushed for a recall to senior ranks by kicking eight goals in the Under 18 game, the Wombats winning by 133 points after keeping Longwood scoreless.
Nathan Oliver kicked three, while captain Thomas Withall and Joshua Dunne kicked two apiece. Lachlan Werner and Damien Hatzie were other good players.
