Banner breakers: Shannon Fleming (front left) leads the Lancaster Under-18 team onto the ground for Saturday’s Under-18 grand final against Nagambie. In the first grand final since 2019 the Wombats were attempting to make it a three-peat of underage wins.
KDL UNDER 18 SCOREBOARD
Nagambie 4.1, 6.2, 6.4, 8.6 (54)
Lancaster 1.2, 1.4, 3.6, 4.10 (34)
Goals, Nagambie: Blake Ezard 5, Flynn O’Brien, William Dalton, Thomas Mason. Lancaster: Nathan Mackison 2, Riley Williams, Nathan Oliver.
Best, Nagambie: Blake Ezard, William Dalton, Luke Cornfoot, Edward Perry, Luke Old, Morgan Donovan. Lancaster: William Worsford, Shannon Fleming, Sebastian Caldwell, Hugh Ryan, Nathan Mickison, Jarrad Fleming.
Groundball get: Shane Arnold tracks the ball during the Wombats grand final loss to Nagambie at Mooroopna on Saturday.
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Lancaster’s dream of completing a three-peat of Kyabram district league Under-18 football premierships ended on Saturday at Mooroopna, but the club is already planning its 2023 assult.
Scott Fleming will be at the helm of the Under-18 team next year as dual premiership coach Michael Mott will be coaching the reserve grade team — replacing premiership coach Brad Tinning.
Mott watched on as several of his 2018-19 premiership players were involved in winning grand final teams, including Luke Davies, Noah Sewell and Matt Fleming in the senior victory.
“There were three or four others in the reserves team that completed a three-peat (three grand final wins with a two year COVID gap in between),” Mott said.
Mott said at least eight of the players from his losing Under-18 team would be eligible for next year’s Under-18 competition, with some even having two years left at the level.
Against a Nagambie team littered with teenagers who had played senior football this season, Lancaster trailed by 28 points at half-time and eventually lost by 20 points — 8.6 (54) to 4.10 (34).
“We played them twice during the year. They beat us by 80 points the first time and we lost to Dookie by 70 points the week after,” Mott said.
Goalkickers: Nathan Mackison and Nate Oliver were responsible for kicking three of the Wombats’ four grand-final goals.
From there the Wombats won seven successive games to qualify for the grand final.
Small defender William Worsfold was the team’s best player in the back pocket, supported by fellow defender Sebastain Caldwell and Hugh Ryan, who started on a wing and ended up at centre half back.
Captain Shannon Fleming, who is believed to have broken a foot in the third quarter, was also a good contributor in the loss.
“All our defenders played well. In general play we had enough of the ball, but we just kicked poorly,” Mott said.
Nathan Mackison was the best forward with two goals, but missed another handful of shots on goal.
Jarrad Fleming, who has another year at underage level, was another player to gain the notice of the coach.
Mott said after winning just for games in 2021 it was a great result for the club, which had a list of 25 this season.
"Our improvement has been enormous,“ he said.
Man in front: Nathan Mackison takes one of several marks in the grand final on Saturday. He kicked two goals and was among the Wombats’ best in the 20-point loss.
