Avenel has continued to soar in 2024 as the Swans made it four wins from as many matches in the Kyabram District Football League.
In the second half of the league’s split round four, Stanhope hosted Avenel on Saturday afternoon and with both sides in finals contention this season the match was set up to be a tight contest.
A slow start from the Swans had the visitors on the back foot early, but Avenel worked themselves into the game and at half-time the Lions led by only three points (33-30).
From that point, the Swans started to take control of the contest, with young gun forward Alex Crnko kicking an equal team-high three goals for the match.
At three-quarter-time, the game was still up for grabs for both sides as Avenel held a 14-point lead heading into the final change.
However, in the last quarter, it was all one-way traffic for the visitors as the Swans put on four unanswered goals to cruise to a 37-point win.
The score finished 6.5 (41) to 11.12 (78) in Avenel’s favour.
Swans coach Matthew Huy was thrilled with his side’s ability to bounce back from a lethargic start to the match.
“We started really slow but the boys got their act together in the second half of the game and ran away with it in the end,” he said.
“Very impressed with how the boys came together.
“New bunch of boys that came into the side and they are really starting to gel really well.”
When the game was on the line during the second and third terms, Huy said he was confident he could turn to a mix of his young and senior players to help the Swans win the match.
“It has been a great first four rounds,” he said.
“You have got guys like Josh Delaney, Liam Lucas, Braydon Hardstaff; they have come into the side and really contributed.
“Young Alex Crnko sits in forward and he has really stepped up.
“I think it’s only his second season of senior footy and then you have got the guys who have been around like Braydon Avola, Cody Ball, Jack Myers and Shanyn Kearney all doing their jobs as well.”
Knowing that the Lions would try to get on a roll during the final quarter as they looked to chase down the Swans' 14-point margin, Huy said he told his troops to trust that the work they had done during the summer would help them get the win.
“We just reflected back on our pre-season and all the work we have done in our game plan and what we have done in the pre-season in the form of fitness and we should be able to run the game out, which we ended up doing.”
In the other Kyabram District Football League split round four match on Saturday, Murchison-Toolamba continued its undefeated streak after it monstered Longwood by 141 points at home.
Murchison-Toolamba started the match firing as it booted 52 points to 14 in the first quarter, in a sign of things to come for Longwood.
Forwards James Lloyd (11 goals) and Aidan Lloyd (seven) had a day to remember as the scoreline finished 25.12 (162) to 3.3 (21).
This mammoth win sees Murchison-Toolamba sit atop the ladder as one of three undefeated sides along with Avenel and Lancaster.
Last weekend saw the first half of the split round with Girgarre defeating Rushworth, Merrigum beating Violet Town, Tallygaroopna defeating Undera, Shepparton East beating Dookie United and Lancaster defeating Nagambie.
Next weekend for round five in the Kyabram District Football League the fixtures will return to normal.