After an unpredictable penultimate weekend of the Kyabram District League, the stage is set for a Lancaster and Murchison-Toolamba grand final next week.
The action started on Saturday when Lancaster pulled off arguably one of the biggest upsets of the season with a six-point triumph over Stanhope.
Despite leading by seven goals at the main break, Lancaster was staring at defeat with 10 minutes left in the preliminary final.
Trailing all match, Stanhope edged its way in front with two goals inside two minutes and onlookers at Tallygaroopna thought the Lions had pulled off the great escape.
But Lancaster tall Sam Aanensen marked 45m out and kicked truly to deliver his side the unforgettable result.
Speaking after the match, playing coach Tom Davies said it was one of the best wins he has ever played in.
“The heart that we showed, especially late when they got in front, we never thought that we were done,” he said.
“(The belief) we spoke about before the game, the belief that we needed to have and we had it until the final siren.
“We walk away with one of the best wins I’ve ever had at the club, one of the best wins I’ve been involved in and one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Lancaster entered the clash without much love on the market after most pundits tipped Stanhope to advance, but with plenty of belief the Wombats chalked up an unforgettable preliminary final win.
Nobody could have predicted what ultimately would transpire at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve.
On a heavy and wet surface, Lancaster got off to the perfect start, while the Lions were left to rue inaccuracy in front of the big sticks.
Davies was everywhere, while star talent Zac Cerrone booted three goals which gave the Wombats a jaw-dropping 39-point lead at half-time.
Stanhope was yet to kick a major, however, you felt a response would come from the Lions.
And that it did.
With a healthy breeze behind them, the Lions clawed their way back into the fold with five goals, which included one after the siren from Jason Leocata (two goals) to put his side within 10 points at the last break.
The breeze died down in the final term but Stanhope’s attack on the scoreboard didn’t and the Lions grabbed the lead halfway through the term.
Jye Adamson was monumental in Stanhope’s fightback, with his tackling and contested ball work a highlight all day long.
However, the match had one last twist.
Aanensen kicked the winning goal to put his side up by three points and another three late behinds gave Lancaster the 9.6 (60) to 7.12 (54) win.
Davies said there was reason for celebration, yet the fearless leader understood more work was ahead.
“At the start of this year it was ‘we’ve worked so hard for the past four years, let’s get a result out of it’ but there’s been a lot of challenges,” Davies said.
“Going into the finals there were no expectations, no one expected anything of us so let’s just play free-flowing footy and Lancaster brand of footy.
“But we’re under no illusions that this is it, we’ve still got a job to do next week.”
Meanwhile, Murchison-Toolamba joined Lancaster in the decider thanks to its 35-point triumph over Shepparton East.
Led by a classy four-goal performance from full-forward James Lloyd, the Grasshoppers ran over the top of the inaccurate Eagles and posted a 12.10 (82) to 5.17 (47) win.
Onlookers were greeted to a physical contest in the first term and huge hits resulted in East’s Hysen Ismet and Justin Davies not being able to finish out the contest.
The Eagles dominated the inside 50 count, but the Grasshoppers’ defensive six were instrumental all day — with Tom Kerrins, Jye Borg, Adam Macgibbon and co standing tall.
Ashton Cashion was lively up forward with two goals, while Lloyd’s younger brothers, Andrew and Aidan, enjoyed moments of brilliance.
The game was defined by Murchison-Toolamba’s impressive ball movement during the second and third term, which saw the outfit build a match-winning lead.
Grasshoppers’ coach Nick Iorianni said his side, relying on its defence mentality, would need to ride the wave of the game.
“A big focus of ours was once again momentum,’’ he said.
“Knowing it was going to be a physical game, momentum was going to shift all game.
“We were lucky we were able to capitalise in the second term and to come out firing at the start of third was really important.
“And that defence-first mentality that we’re all about really stood up in key parts (of that game).”