Round four of the Kyabram District League senior football competition saw the Swans travel to Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday to take on the Redlegs, recording a huge 16.17 (113) to 4.5 (29) victory to move to 2-1 from their three games so far this season.
Coach Joshua Delaney said the victory was satisfying, especially after the late fade out last week.
“It’s nice to get a win, obviously bouncing back after kind of a disappointing effort against Murchison,” he said.
“We thought we were a good chance against Murch, so we just wanted to rebound back to playing good footy.
“Obviously we started pretty slow in the first half, but after a while we got our game going, and then to click in the gear was actually pretty rewarding for us.”
Despite the eventual 84-point margin, and the fact they kept the home side scoreless in the first term, it took a while for the Swans to create a definitive gap, with the scoreboard reading 4.7 (31) to the Redlegs’ 2.1 (13) at the main break.
But six-goal-to-one third term for the visitors blew the contest wide open, paving the way for the 14-goal victory.
Delaney said not much changed between the first and second halves, with the focus more on execution rather than anything too dramatic after half time.
“The messaging was just keep doing what we were doing, our execution was just off,” he said.
“We didn't change a whole lot, it was more about calming ourselves down and just finding a target and hitting a target.
“We got a bit rushed, a bit inconsistent, so the message was just keep calm, it's going to come, keep to the game style and it's going to work out, and it showed.
“In the first five minutes (of the second half) we kicked a couple of goals, and, yeah, the boys just stuck at the game plan and then the game fell into our favour by just sticking to what we know and not changing anything.”
Tim Dundon was named Avenel’s best in the win, joined by Ben Gillett, Jack Myers and Chayse Thomson, while the Avola brothers, Corey (three goals) and Braydon (two goals) hit the scoreboard in the win too.
Luke Furci also booted three, having joined the club in the off-season, as did the Avola’s who made their way back to the club, with their additions a massive boost according to Delaney.
“Oh, they’ve been huge,” he said.
“It's not just about the footy experience, it's more about their personality and what they bring to they club in general as well, both off field and on field.
“Obviously, football experience is helping us, especially with a lot of young guys we've got, but they have off field presence as well.
“They’ve really set up the club in a fantastic position... they’ve been massive additions for us.”
The Swans face another massive test in round five when they face a red hot Lancaster, who recorded a 22.22 (154) to 3.3 (21) demolition of Longwood at the weekend.
Elsewhere in round four, Violet Town is on the board in 2026 after a 19.18 (132) to 10.11 (71) over Merrigum, Shepparton East were too classy for Rushworth in a 20.10 (130) to 6.12 (48) victory, while Murchison-Toolamba cruised past Undera with a 19.14 (128) to 6.2 (38) win.
In the final game of the round, Stanhope denied a wayward Girgarre a second win, claiming an 11.9 (75) to 5.16 (46) victory.
