Pigeons gear up for the last home game

Goals: Ben Coghill 3, Charley McKenna 1.

The Yarrawonga Pigeons will finish off the home and away season at home after travelling to Wangaratta last weekend to take on the Rovers in a contest that demanded courage, pressure and a willingness to fight for every possession.

The scoreboard ultimately favoured the Rovers, who finished with 10.20 (80) to Yarrawonga’s 4.2 (26), but there were plenty of positives to take from a Pigeons side that entered the contest with injuries aplenty and a clear focus on creating carnage at the contest and applying pressure across the ground.

The opening term belonged to the Pigeons. Despite facing a Rovers outfit packed with class across every line, Yarrawonga stuck to its game plan and took its opportunities when they came.

Young forward Ben Coghill was outstanding early, looking dangerous in the air and using the football well.

Three quality shots at goal resulted in two majors and a behind, giving the Pigeons a perfect start and Coghill a memorable opening quarter.

At the first change, Yarrawonga led 2.1 to 1.4 and had given the home side plenty to think about.

The second quarter was one the Pigeons would rather not revisit. Wangaratta took control of possession and generated repeated opportunities in front of goal. However, remarkably, the Rovers could only manage 1.8 for the term, leaving the door open for Yarrawonga.

To the Pigeons' credit, that inaccuracy was not entirely down to luck.

The relentless pressure of Jordan Urquhart, William Wheeler and Cam Wilson made life difficult for the Rovers, with the Pigeons refusing to allow their opponents clean football.

At half-time, the Rovers had moved in front, but the Pigeons remained in the contest.

While Wangaratta eventually gained control, the effort of the Pigeons around the contest was impressive.

William Wheeler was immense, finishing with 30 disposals, 17 contested possessions and nine clearances, while Harrison Wheeler continued to work tirelessly with 23 disposals.

Jack Elliot provided an important target in the ruck, recording 21 disposals and an enormous 27 hit-outs.

Jordan Urquhart collected 17 disposals and nine marks, while Cam Wilson also finished with 17 disposals, including 10 contested possessions.

The Pigeons were asking plenty of questions at the coalface and repeatedly challenged a Rovers side boasting some of the competition's best players.

Down back, Mitchell, Keenes, Watson, Gorman and Henley were handed a massive assignment against quality opposition and they were under pressure for large periods of the afternoon.

Sometimes football is about winning the contest; sometimes it is about learning what is required when the opposition has momentum and the Pigeons' defenders received plenty of the latter on Saturday.

Bring the Pigeons Army

The Pigeons return home to face modern-day rival Albury Tigers in a clash with plenty at stake.

The Tigers will be desperate to finish their season with a win, while the Pigeons will be looking to build momentum, sharpen their football and head into the 2026 elimination final full of run and belief.

This is the last chance to watch the Pigeons play at home in Yarrawonga in 2026.

So, Pigeons supporters, this is your call.

Bring the noise. Bring the colour. Bring the passion. One more home game. One more chance to get behind the Pigeons.

Undermanned Reserves refuse to surrender

Wangaratta Rovers 7.3, 12.7, 15.13, 18.16 (124) def Yarrawonga 0.1, 0.1, 1.2, 4.5 (29)

Best Players: Lachlan Craig, Jackson Buda, Mac Hargreaves, Matt McCabe, Henry Donovan, Samuel Bigger.

The Pigeons' Second XVIII arrived at the Rovers facing a task that, on paper, looked impossible.

With 18 senior players unavailable, the side was desperately undermanned, leaving a number of young players to step up and take on roles they may not have expected to play this season.

And step up they did. Mac Hargreaves, Henry Donovan, Jai Webster and Jack Ibrahim answered the call, with Hargreaves taking up the famous No. 7 jumper once worn by his Hall of Fame father and sliding onto the half-back flank as though he had been playing there for years.

On the opposite flank, Ibrahim showed a clean pair of heels, using his pace to show all at the ground he is seriously talented footballer.

For long periods, the ball lived in the Rovers' forward half, placing enormous pressure on the young Pigeons defenders. But they refused to buckle.

Hargreaves and Ibrahim, along with Hamilton, Matt McCabe and McKay, stood tall throughout the afternoon, repeatedly putting their bodies on the line and fighting to keep the Pigeons in the contest.

The second half was particularly impressive, with the Pigeons scoring 4 goals to 6 in an even half of football.

That turnaround was a testament to the work rate and determination of a group that simply refused to accept that the game was beyond them.

With Lachlan Craig also battling away in the ruck on his own for the entire game, the workload placed on the Pigeons was enormous.

Yet they kept coming. Across the zones, Samuel Bigger and Jackson Buda battled hard all day, providing the grunt and pressure required to give their teammates a chance.

Henry Donovan was lively whenever he found an opportunity to attack. With a little more opportunity, Donovan looked capable of ripping the game open, and his banana goal from the south-east pocket was a moment of pure class.

Perhaps the biggest story to come out of the afternoon is that the Pigeons' Second XVIII are still alive in 2026.

A win over the Tigers this week will see the boys claim fifth spot and book their place in the finals.

Considering the injury list, the unavailable senior players and the challenges this group has faced, simply remaining in the finals hunt is an achievement in itself.

But after what they produced in the second half against the Rovers, it would be a foolish person who wrote these Pigeons off.

Young Pigeons gain more momentum

Wangaratta Rovers 3.0, 5.5, .8, 10.9 (69) def by Yarrawonga 2.1, 4.2, 7.4, 11.5 (71)

Best Players: Baxter Donovan, Oliver Tresize, Cooper Clark, Jai Sneddon, Blair Strawhorn, Sonny Sneddon

Goals: Baxter Donovan 5, Jai Sneddon 2

On face value, this contest might not have looked like it had much to play for.

With the finals picture largely locked in, perhaps some expected the intensity to drop a little. Someone forgot to tell the 44 boys who pulled on the boots.

From the opening bounce, the contest was played with finals-like intensity, with the two sides going at each other all day.

Very little separated them for long periods, and every time one side looked ready to break the game open, the opposition found a way to respond.

It was a terrific contest and a great advertisement for the commitment of both groups.

The Pigeons entered the game without some serious forward firepower, with McCarty and Trembath, the club's major goalkickers for 2026, sidelined. Enter Baxter Donovan.

Asked to take on the role as the Pigeons' primary forward target, Donovan answered the call with a composed and crucial five-goal performance.

With the usual avenues to goal unavailable, Donovan provided exactly what his side needed, a reliable target who could make the most of his opportunities and keep the scoreboard ticking over. It was a terrific contribution in an important contest.

Cooper Clark once again continued his strong run of form, producing another impressive performance and showing the consistency that has become a feature of his football this season.

Ollie Tresize, returning from school football, was also critical, providing plenty of quality driving run and helping the Pigeons move the ball forward with purpose.

The Snedden brothers again controlled the airwaves, giving their teammates a strong presence around the ground and ensuring the Pigeons had an important advantage when the ball went into the air.

But while individual performances deserve recognition, this was ultimately a win built around the collective effort.

The biggest positive from the contest was the pressure applied by the entire Pigeons squad.

There is no let-up this week, with Albury providing another significant challenge.

The Tigers have been a benchmark for the Pigeons in the U18 competition throughout 2026, making this another excellent opportunity for the young Pigeons to test themselves against quality opposition.

Finals may be getting closer, but if this week's contest was anything to go by, these young Pigeons aren't waiting for September to start playing finals football.

Pigeons Loft

The Pigeons return to the JC Lowe Oval Saturday for their final home game of the home and away season. With finals fast approaching, there is plenty of reason for the Yarrawonga faithful to get along and get behind their club.

Saturday the Albury Tigers come to town, with plenty of intriguing contests across both football and netball.

The 3rd XVIII gets things underway, with both sides featuring finals-bound players who will be desperate to build momentum heading into the business end of the season. It promises to be an excellent opportunity to see some of the club's young talent in action before finals arrive.

The B Grade netball clash should also be a cracker, with little separating the sides after their previous meeting finished in a draw.

Then at 2pm, the senior footballers take centre stage.

The Tigers have finished their season and will be keen to finish on a high by claiming a scalp, while the Pigeons will be looking to put together a strong performance and build confidence ahead of their elimination final on Sunday week.

For the Pigeons, today is about more than just another home game. It is the final opportunity for supporters to see the players in action at the JC Lowe before the pressure of finals football arrives.

Get down to the ground, support the young Pigeons and make some noise.

Day on the Green – Sponsor & Volunteers Day

Saturday will also mark the Pigeons' annual Day on the Green – Sponsor & Volunteers Day, with the club taking the opportunity to thank the incredible volunteers and valued sponsors who make Yarrawonga Football Netball Club possible.

It is one of the favourite events on the club calendar and the perfect way to celebrate the final home game of another season of community football and netball.

Supporters are invited to join the club on the outer hill for an all-inclusive afternoon. Tickets will be available on the hill.

The Yarrawonga Football Netball Club sincerely thanks its major partners for their continued support throughout the season:

ClubMulwala • Kennedy Builders • Belmores • BETR • Yarrawonga Ford • The Play Project • Yarrawonga Holiday Park • Yarrawonga Hotel • BG Finance.

Save the date: Thursday, 24 September– Presentation Night | ClubMulwala