While it might not be a far-fetched result, Avenel’s brilliant victory over Shepparton East on Sunday afternoon at Girgarre Recreation Reserve is an upset nonetheless, with the Swans, who finished fifth, overcoming their fourth-placed opponent to keep their season alive for at least another week.
In a cracking second elimination final, the Swans got the jump on a wayward Eagles side to enjoy a healthy half-time lead, and while chances to seal a comfortable win went begging in the second half, they still did enough to triumph 9.14 (68) to 6.20 (56).
“It was a massive relief for us,” Avenel coach Joshua Delaney said of hearing the final siren knowing his side was in front.
“We knew we could keep up with the top four teams, and just to see all our plans that were in place come to fruition was exciting.
“Everyone played their role, didn’t get caught up in the moment of the high-intensity game, and everyone kept pretty composed, which was such a pleasing thing to see throughout the whole day against a pretty quality opposition.”
That composure that Delaney referenced was evident early, with the Swans making the most of their chances to lead 4.3 (27) to the Eagles’ 1.6 (12), before piling on the scoreboard pressure with another three-goals-to-one in the second term.
The Swans had extended the margin to 22 points by half-time, though the Eagles had arguably kicked themselves out of the lead, booting a scarcely believable 2.13 (25) to Avenel’s 7.5 (47).
Shepp East fought back in the third term, reducing the margin to 15 points by three-quarter time, and cut the lead to single digits with the first goal of the final term.
But the Swans looked in control, pushing the lead back beyond two goals and dictating much of the play, closing out a 12-point victory despite their final six scoring shots resulting in six behinds.
It is a stark difference to the six-goal defeat Avenel suffered in the only meeting between the two sides earlier this season, with Delaney heaping praise on the side’s discipline in defence, which heavily contributed to the victory.
“When we played during the year they jumped us pretty badly, they went up by about nine goals (by quarter-time),” he said.
“So, we emphasised starting fast, but also being a lot more composed as well and controlling the game, because if we control the game they don’t have the ball.
“They were pretty inaccurate, but I think that was our pressure, our team defence forced them into shots from the boundary and not directly in front, and forced them to miss.”
Nick Jolly was named Avenel’s best in the win, booting one major in a best afield performance, closely followed by Luke Furci with a game-high three goals proving influential in the victory.
The Swans’ win now sets up a showdown with reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba in this Sunday’s second semi-final, after the Hoppers came from 26 points down at three-quarter time to beat Stanhope in Saturday’s first elimination final.
The Swans fell victim to a 96-point defeat at the hands of the Hoppers in round 15, though were ahead by three goals at half-time in their round two meeting, leaving Delaney — who recently recommitted to the club as senior coach for next season —confident of a competitive showing if his side brings it’s best football.
“One hundred per cent we do (believe we can win),” he said.
“If we can keep our pressure up, we think our pressure game is one of the best in the comp, so if we can keep our pressure up like we did at the weekend and earlier in the year as well, we know we can beat them.
“But they are such a quality side with the way they are structured across the whole ground with backs, mids and forwards, so we know it’s going to be a tough challenge, they’re a quality opposition and they’ve won the last two premierships for a reason.
“Our belief is quite high at the moment, so we just have to keep believing in ourselves, and finals is a different kind of ball game, you just never know what is going to happen.”
Avenel and Murchison-Toolamba will do battle in the second semi-final this Sunday, August 30 at Murchison Recreation Reserve, with the first centre bounce set for 2:15pm.
Nagambie and Lancaster will contest the first semi-final at 2:30pm on Saturday, August 29 at Nagambie Recreation Reserve, with the winner set to punch the first ticket to the grand final.
