Weekly Times | LAVINGTON coach James Saker has no doubt his side belongs in the Ovens and Murray grand final — having come agonisingly close in the past two seasons.
The Panthers, who lost their past two preliminary finals by a point, denied Yarrawonga a seventh straight match-up in the decider with Albury, winning Sunday’s preliminary final 15.16 (106) to 9.6 (60).
“It’s good to get our club into a game we think we belong in,” Saker said.
The last hurdle between Lavington and its quest for its first flag since 2005 is Albury, which gave the Panthers a lesson in four-quarter football the last time the sides met.
The Tigers comfortably won the semi-final by 57 points despite only being four points ahead at the main change.
Saker, a former Werribee player in the VFL, said his troops restored their “pride” with the crushing win at the weekend and challenged them to bring the same intent in Sunday’s rematch.
Saker believed it was “human nature” people were delighted for another club to get its chance after six seasons of dominance in the Ovens and Murray league by two clubs.
But Ovens and Murray league general manager Aaron McGlynn said the league did not take any pleasure in Yarrawonga’s demise and would not be “playing favourites” this weekend.
Saker gave himself the job on outgoing Yarrawonga star Brendan Fevola at the weekend and could line up on another former AFL forward, Setanta Ó hAilpín, this Sunday.
He added changes to his side were a possibility to match up on one of country football’s most explosive outfits, which features the likes of Dean Polo, Chris Hyde, Luke Daly and Joel Mackie.
Fevola, who has confirmed he will join former Carlton teammate Ryan Houlihan at Western Region club Deer Park next season, returned from a broken ankle for the elimination final against North Albury.
He subsequently kicked 20 goals in three finals matches, finishing his tenure at Yarrawonga with 65 senior matches and kicked 357 goals from four seasons.
Fevola, who was co-coach at Yarrawonga this year, said he was leaving to be closer to his family, and his three daughters were “super excited” to have him living closer.
“I really love the club and hopefully repaid them with the performance on the ground,” Fevola said.
“It’s hard to put into words, it’s just a really special place.”