Nagambie will be looking to clinch its first senior flag since 2019 on Saturday.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
There is heartache to avenge at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
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It has taken three years for Nagambie to return to the Kyabram District League senior football decider after it was comprehensively beaten by this weekend’s opponent Lancaster in 2023.
It takes a turn of the decade to remember the Lakers last senior football flag in 2019.
But the Wombats, while riddled with early success in the 2020s, have a whisper in their ear about falling short for the second season in a row.
“There’s a real hunger among the group,” Lancaster coach Nick Ryan said.
“It was disappointing to fall short last year, but now a few extra boys have that experience which we think will hold us in good stead.”
There undoubtedly will be passion and desperation at full flight on Saturday.
After a tense preliminary final where the Wombats escaped Murchison-Toolamba a point, Ryan hopes the ability to win a close final has been proven and the proverbial monkey is off the back of the ‘Bats.
“We always seem to be within a kick of them, don’t we!’ Ryan said.
“It was good to be on the right side of the ledger though, if you lose you start to get those doubts about whether we’ll ever win a close one, but now that’s nullified it’s a real confidence-booster for the team.”
The Wombats’ week has been light coming off a slog, as has Nagambie’s veteran-filled side, enjoying the bye break ahead of the decider.
“The boys are keen,” Nagambie coach Anthony Haysom said.
“Having the week off with the older group has been good, and it’s been light lately to keep us fresh.”
With the Lakers winning both encounters so far, by 24 points in round 12 and 15 points in the qualifying final, Nagambie is confident of its ability to do it again on Saturday, but knows Lancaster still poses a threat.
“It’s been a pretty close contest both times, and they have no real weakness with an even spread across the ground,” Haysom said.
“Their fullback has gotten the better of Tom (Barnes) a little bit the last two times, but I fully back Tom to rebound and perform, he’s had a phenomenal year.
Nagambie's Tom Barnes has kicked over triple figures of goals this year and will be a key player to watch.
“I’m really excited to see how Will Dalton goes, he’s the best pressure player in the side and I expect him to thrive in a high pressure game.”
Meanwhile, Ryan holds high praise for his ruckman Samuel Jackson and believes he could tear the game apart for a Wombats win.
“Sammy Jackson could be the best player on the ground when it’s all said and done,” Ryan said.
“His tap work and ability to find our midfielders is unreal, he has the potential to be the difference.
“But we’ve got a lot of talented players, we’ve had a lot of avenues to goal all year, and any of our forwards can put on a 10, 15 minute blitz and burst the game open.
“The McLay brothers add a good mix in the middle, and our usuals down back like Adam Lovison are ever reliable.”
So, it all comes down to this.
Two seasons culminated in equal 15-1 records, but on Saturday, equal will not be viable.
One club will avenge its previous grand final heartache, the other will suffer the pain of it again.
It will be cut-throat KDL action at its very best.
One FM 98.5 will broadcast all three KDL football grand finals, live from Mooroopna at 10am, with the Nagambie-Lancaster clash scheduled for 2:40pm. One FM’s broadcast continues at Deakin Reserve on Sunday at 1:30pm, as Shepparton versus Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley League preliminary final.
