Wombats’ fast finish against Stanhope

The reigning premier now faces Murchsion-Toolamba in a replay of last season’s grand final.

Murchison-Toolamba has dominated two of its opponents this season, beating Dookie United by 49 points in the opening round and then crushing Girgarre by 127 points at the weekend.

Last year’s runner-up sits fifth after three rounds, one of five clubs on two wins for the season. Of those only one, Shepparton East, is unbeaten and sitting closely behind the dominant Nagambie combination.

With Rushworth not fielding a team in the senior competition, Shepparton East has only played two games.

Nagambie has won its first three games by 84 points, 48 points (against Murchison Toolamba) and 167 points.

Will Dalton, the son of a former premiership captain Adam, has kicked 21 goals in the opening three rounds after last year being named best on ground in his team’s Under-18 grand final win.

Jonathon Moore, the son of another former premiership star Dean and grandson of former leading GVL goalkicker Dick, has also been brilliant early with 11 goals in three weeks.

There is a strong historic flavour to the Lakers’ line-up with names like Fothergill, Barnes and Muir featuring in the seniors.

Lancaster faces Nagambie on June 3, but will be focused on last season’s runner-up after disposing of the Lions on Saturday.

Stanhope was able to keep the home side honest for three quarters, although the Wombats always held a handy scoreboard edge.

Lancaster coach Tom Davies said he thought his team was in control for most of the game but “just couldn’t put them away”.

“We got it together in the last quarter, which was good.”

Zac Cerrone with three successive goals and Kyle Kydd with two goals put the icing on the cake in Lancaster’s final-quarter onslaught, but it was the team’s defence, led by Luke Davies, Phil Carroll and Nic McAuliffe, which shut down the Lions forward line for most of the game.

Morrie Serra (three goals), Tanner Cerrone and Koden Colman with two each were also multiple goalkickers for the winners, while Tom Davies and ruckman Nic Ryan made telling contributions.

Tannar Cerrone was one of nine goalkickers for Lancaster on its way to the 74-point win.

He has returned to the club this year from Heathcote league club Elmore after kicking 65 goals in a five-season stretch at senior level with the Wombats from 2015-18. He was also an underage star, kicking 114 goals in 45 games in three seasons at Under-18 level.

Davies said an absorbing contest was brewing for this Saturday’s clash with Murchison-Toolamba.

“We have got a good defence and they have a good forward line, so whoever wins will go a long way to determining the outcome.”

Stanhope had two quarters of highly competitive football against the reigning premier, trailing by just 10 points at quarter time and then outscoring Lancaster in the third term.

A three-goal-to-three-point second term and the eight-goal-to-no-score last term meant the result was eventually a blowout.

After the injury to key defender Stuart Trevena last week the Lions had no injuries from the weekend and will face Undera, hoping for a return to the winners’ list.

Undera started the season in encouraging fashion, losing by just 26 points to 2022 semi-finalist Avenel and then only beaten by seven points against Tallygaroopna.

The club, however, had a major blowout when it became the first victim of Longwood in the Kyabram District Football League in 1400-plus days when it lost by 35 points.

Nathan O’Reilly was the Lions best player in the centre, supported by defenders Adam Lovison, Alex O’Reilly and youngster Brady Wileman.

With Trevena out and Wileman playing in a key defensive post the team brought in veteran Daryl Harrison for his first senior game of the season.

Stanhope sits eighth on the ladder after three rounds and has three winnable games in the next month, facing Undera (10th), Avenel (fourth), Tallygaroopna and Longwood before facing league heavyweight Shepparton East on June 24.