Stanhope’s 219-point turnaround

By Rohan Aldous

Apr 25, 2023

Family affair: Jye Adamson, son of Stanhope coach Mark, celebrates the first of his four goals in the Lions’ 135-point second-round win against Girgarre on Saturday. Rhys Smith, the stepson of the coach, also kicked five goals in the victory. Photos: Rohan Aldous

Stanhope’s shock round-one loss was all but forgotten on Saturday when it kicked 27 goals and registered a 135-point win against neighbour Girgarre in round two of Kyabram district league football.

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The Lions completed a 219-point turnaround (from losing by 84 points to winning by 135) from its round-one defeat to Nagambie and then celebrated the result by chairing captain Craig Emmett from the ground in his 300th senior game for the club.

A 27.13 (175) to 6.4 (40) scoreline has left Girgarre as one of five winless clubs in the 13-club league and facing last year’s grand finalist Murchison-Toolamba this weekend.

Coach Mark Adamson said his team had embraced the Emmett milestone, which included the team wearing warm-up shirts with the words Crackers’ 300 across the chest.

“Craig has been a great person for the club and is well respected and liked. We embraced the event as much as we could,” Adamson said.

Stanhope has a round-three appointment with reigning premier Lancaster, which will be on the rebound after a five-point loss to early season flag-favourite Shepparton East.

After kicking just seven goals in its 84-point round-one defeat, Tomas Rennie bagged 10 majors in the win.

Rennie kicked 40 goals from 16 games last season, including a season-high eight against Tallygaroopna.

He had a dozen shots on goal and will be hoping for a repeat of his underage goalkicking exploits, when he kicked 90 goals for Murchison-Toolamba’s Under-18 team in 2017.

His brother, Jake, finished empty handed as he played further up the ground.

He, too, has a history of kicking bags of goals and in a two-year stint at Murchison kicked 111 goals in 37 games (including a 2013 premiership with the club).

Rhys Smith kicked five goals after being kept goalless last week against Nagambie and will be aiming to improve on his 32-goal season for Stanhope last season.

SCOREBOARD

SENIORS

Stanhope................................................27.13 (175)

Girgarre.........................................................6.4 (40)

GOALS, Stanhope: T. Rennie 10, R. Smith 5, J. Adamson 4, J. Leocata 3, D. Keck 2, N. Hanneysee 2, J. Pearson 1, Girgarre: J. Patmore 3, B. Dryden 1, E. Palma-Ludeman 1, L. Baker 1.

BEST, Stanhope: N. O’reilly, J. Adamson, T. Rennie, D. Keck, D. Flynn, B. O’reilly, Girgarre: R. Butler, J. Maxwell, J. Patmore, L. Baker, B. Dryden, N. Woods.

RESERVES

Stanhope...............................................9.12 (66)

Girgarre....................................................5.3 (33)

GOALS, Stanhope: J. Fisher 2, S. Leocata 2, B. Canny 1, J. Mason 1, J. Canny 1, J. Patten 1, Girgarre: N. Zegelin 3, C. Gahan 1, D. Wade 1.

BEST, Stanhope: D. Harrison, J. Gillie, H. Wilkie, L. Hanslow, J. Canny, B. Canny, Girgarre: N. Zegelin, T. Northausen, B. Fletcher, D. Manoel, R. Cunningham, R. Chessum.

UNDER 18

Stanhope...................................................6.13 (49)

Girgarre.....................................................13.7 (85)

GOALS, Stanhope: R. Wileman 2, B. Wileman 1, H. Hicks 1, S. Dean 1.

BEST, Stanhope: L. Joyce, D. Adamson, M. Wright, S. Dean, M. Keegan, K. Tyler.

Best on ground: Since crossing to Stanhope from Tatura in 2017 Nathan O’Reilly has been a star for the Lions. He was best afield in the one sided match against Girgarre on Saturday.

Hard-tackling Darcy Keck worked in tandem with Jye Adamson, interchanging as Rennie’s small forward spoil while spending time in the mid-field.

The pair had 20 tackles between them and finished with a combined six goals.

Along with Jason Leocata, who kicked three goals in his usual opportunistic fashion, there were six multiple goalkickers for the Lions

Nathan O’Reilly, according to his coach, was clearly best on ground and ruckman Daniel Flynn was dominant.

O’Reilly’s brother, Bradley, was also a contributor to the result as Stanhope kicked eight goals in the first and the last quarters.

Adamson said Girgarre showed plenty in the final quarter when its best player, Ryan Butler, spent more time in the midfield.

Stanhope will be without key defender, and vice-captain, Stuart Trevena for an extended period after he suffered a serious shoulder injury.

— Lions chairman of selectors and multi-league medal-winning star of the Kyabam district and Murray leagues, Daryl Harrison, was best on ground in Stanhope 33-point reserve-grade win.

Playing with another veteran of Stanhope premiership glory, and reigning Wade Medallist Jarrad Mason, the Lions veteran helped his team to its first win of the season despite the three-goal effort of Girgarre’s Nathan Zegelin.