Round six of the Kyabram District Football League delivered another slate of intriguing results, with a split of competitive encounters and one-sided affairs.
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Lancaster edged past Murchison-Toolamba in a grand final rematch, Undera earned its first win of the year in devastating fashion, and Stanhope and Girgarre both lost close encounters, while Rushworth and Merrigum were comfortably beaten by Avenel and Nagambie, respectively.
RESULTS
Round six
Lancaster 5.2, 7.5, 13.9, 13.12 (90) d Murchison-Toolamba 1.2, 5.2, 6.3, 11.8 (74)
Violet Town 0.2, 4.5, 6.7, 10.7 (67) lt Undera 10.3, 15.7, 23.11, 29.15 (189)
Stanhope 4.0, 5.2, 10.5, 13.10 (88) lt Longwood 2.4, 6.6, 10.7, 15.11 (101)
Girgarre 1.1, 3.5, 3.5, 5.8 (38) lt Shepparton East 2.4, 4.10, 4.17, 6.21 (57)
Rushworth 2.7, 4.7, 8.8, 12.10 (82) lt Avenel 2.6, 6.10, 11.12, 17.15 (117)
Nagambie 6.7, 14.15, 19.20, 22.24 (156) d Merrigum 1.0, 2.0, 4.1, 5.1 (31)
Tallygaroopna bye
Lancaster hosted Murchison-Toolamba in a rematch of last year’s decider, the Wombats arguably favourites heading into the big clash given their perfect start across the opening four rounds.
Reigning premier Murchison had already dropped a game this season — as many as it lost last year — and Lancaster showed early on why it sat higher on the ladder, opening the game with five goals to one in a dominant first quarter.
The Grasshoppers responded with a much better second term, booting four majors to Lancaster’s two to trim the margin, though the Wombats still held a solid 7.5 (47) to 5.2 (32) advantage at half-time.
Lancaster was chasing revenge for its agonising grand final loss in 2025, and the third quarter was where the hosts took full control, producing a game-best six majors to the Hoppers’ one, suddenly leading by eight goals at three-quarter time.
But Murchison didn’t lie down in the final term, delivering its best period of the day with five goals while making Lancaster nervously see out the game with just three behinds.
In the end, the fourth quarter barrage fell short as the Wombats held on for a 13.12 (90) to 11.8 (74) victory.
Luke Davies and captain Charlie Mclay led the way for Lancaster in the goal scoring department, kicking four majors each, while Mclay, Matthew Fleming, Adam Lovison, Shannon Fleming, Ricky Thomson and Ryan Hatch were named in the best players.
Despite being 5-0, the Wombats still sit behind Nagambie on the ladder in second as the Lakers also won again and have a better percentage, with Lancaster looking to keep the pressure on when it travels to Tallygaroopna this weekend.
Violet Town v Undera
Undera had made a winless start to its season ahead of a trip to Violet Town, with the Lions losing all but one of their matches by 50 or more points.
But the Towners only had one win to their name, offering Undera an opponent it was capable of beating, and the visitors made a stunning start at Violet Town Recreation Reserve by booting 10 first-quarter majors to the hosts’ two behinds.
The second term was much more even as Violet Town kicked its first four goals of the day, though five more for Undera saw it win the period and run up a strong lead even further, with Glenn Hart’s team holding a 15.7 (97) to 4.5 (29) advantage at half-time.
Instead of taking their foot off the gas, the Lions doubled down in devastating fashion, booting eight goals to the Towners’ two in the third quarter to lead by triple figures heading into the fourth.
The visitors would end up winning each quarter by kicking another six majors in the fourth to give themselves a much-needed percentage boost along with the 29.15 (189) to 10.7 (67) win.
The Lions had 11 different players contribute to the whopping 29 goals they kicked, with six for Jack Millar and five for Kade Bellingham leading the way, while both were also named as best players alongside Matthew Perazzola, Anthony Miller, Alex Hywood and Sam Billinge.
Undera moved up to ninth on the ladder by now having the best percentage of all sides on one win, with this weekend’s opponent Rushworth also in that cluster.
Stanhope v Longwood
Stanhope sat with a 3-1 record heading into a home clash against Longwood, and confidence was high after the Lions’ significant win over Shepparton East in round five.
Stanhope was facing another finals contender in the Redlegs, and the Lions started stronger by kicking four straight in the first quarter to Longwood’s 2.4.
The visitors struck back in the second term with four goals of their own as Stanhope let go of the rope with only one major, suddenly trailing 5.3 (32) to 6.6 (42) at the main break.
In a game of momentum swings, it was the Lions’ turn to ride the wave in the third quarter, narrowly winning the period with five goals, though four for Longwood still had it leading. Its margin was just two points, setting up a thrilling finish in the fourth.
In the end, Stanhope’s inability to put together a full four quarters of strong football cost it, as the Redlegs finished stronger with five goals to three, prevailing 15.11 (101) to 13.10 (88).
Lions player-coach Matthew Butler again made a strong impact on the scoreboard with four goals, being complemented by three from Amir Meyerowitz, while Tyler Norman, Oliver Silk, Stuart Trevena, Lior Smart, Nathan O’Reilly, and Taylor Butler were named in Stanhope’s best.
A second defeat of the season for the Lions saw them slip to seventh on the ladder, and their schedule continues to throw up challenges, with round seven offering a trip away to fifth-placed Avenel this weekend.
Girgarre v Shepparton East
Girgarre’s slow start to the season took another blow in a heavy loss to Nagambie last week, and its task to respond was not made easier by facing a Shepparton East outfit fresh off a surprising loss to Stanhope.
Playing at home again, the Kangaroos made a decent start, with the two sides exchanging only three goals as the Eagles — responsible for two of them — took a nine-point lead into the first change.
Another even period was played out in the second term, as this time Girgarre matched Shepparton’s goals tally with two, though the Eagles’ inaccuracy prevented them from having a larger lead, with the Kangaroos trailing 3.5 (23) to 4.10 (34) at half-time.
Neither side kicked a major in the third quarter, with Girgarre not registering a point and the Eagles booting seven behinds, and the two sides again kicked two goals each in the final term, which was enough for the visitors to win 6.21 (57) to 5.8 (38).
Jack Mackenzie kicked two of Girgarre’s five goals, while Reardon McIvor, Connor Moore, Harry Browning-Briese, Shaun Haffenden, Jorge Maxwell and Joshua Wheeler were named as the Roos’ best.
The Kangaroos remained 11th on the ladder despite the defeat, and their next opportunity to register a second win for 2026 comes against Merrigum on Saturday.
Rushworth v Avenel
Rushworth picked up a much-needed first win of the season in round five after a trio of heavy defeats, and it had the opportunity for consecutive wins when Avenel made the trip to Rushworth Recreation Reserve.
The Tigers made a solid start as both sides failed to fully capitalise on a host of scoring shots in the first quarter, which Rushy edged with 2.7 to Avenel’s 1.6.
The Swans would take control of the contest in the second term, laying on five goals to two straight, with the visitors holding a solid 6.10 (46) to 4.7 (31) advantage at half-time.
Rushworth would match its total first-half goals tally in the third quarter with four majors, but Avenel still won the period with five of its own to lead by 22 at the final change.
The hosts had another strong attacking quarter to finish with four more goals, but their inability to slow down the Swans at the other end cost them, with Avenel booting six in the fourth to win 17.15 (117) to 12.10 (82).
Daniel Brock kicked five goals for Rushworth, with Ethan Arnold, Tighe Clarke, Brad Canny, Matthew Ludbrook and Jac Barrett joining him on the best players list.
Undera’s win means Rushworth has dropped a spot to 10th on the ladder, and the two sides will face each other this Saturday.
Nagambie v Merrigum
Merrigum had showed signs of minor improvement from last year despite being winless, though the Bulldogs were set to be up against it in a trip to unbeaten Nagambie.
The Lakers were expected to win, and they put themselves in a strong position early with six first-quarter goals, Merrigum only kicking one of its own to trail by 37 at the first change.
Nagambie produced its best period in the second term, piling on eight majors to Merrigum’s one, with the Bulldogs facing another heavy defeat by trailing 2.0 (12) to 14.15 (99) at half-time.
Merrigum would produce a better second half, kicking three goals in total, though it barely slowed down the Lakers’ attack, as Nagambie added another eight majors across the third and fourth quarters to win 22.24 (156) to 5.1 (31).
Zayne Gilbert kicked two of the Bulldogs’ five goals on the day, while Shelby Ludlow-Lambrick, Aidan Carroll, Brayden Hall, Riley Williams, Reeve Verhoeven and Shaun Doolan were Merrigum’s best players.
The bottom-placed Bulldogs are now the only winless side left in the competition, aiming to get off the mark against Girgarre this weekend.