The Avoca Football Club faced its biggest crisis early in 1936, when a new team called the Lamplough Miners Football Club was formed.
Fourteen players, who worked at the Lamplough mine, applied for clearances form Avoca to the new club.
The row, threatened to ruin the club.
However, the miners club disbanded near the end of the season. Whilst some players returned to Avoca, others refused to play football again.
Fortunately, their interest in the club was rejuvenated when their sons started playing for Avoca.
Naturally, the exit of several top players affected Avoca’s performance but they regained ground quickly when the Miners club folded.
Avoca’s continued strength was confirmed when eight players were selected in the strong Pyrenees Association’s representative side, which won the Beaurepaire Shield.
Errol Howell (Captain & Coach), Paddy Ryan, Fred Chapman, George Harrison, Arthur Stuart, Eric Stuart, Clem Hill and Claude Cunningham.
Once again Paddy Ryan was performing miracles in the goal square and, in the semi final against Lexton, Paddy booted 10 of the team’s 14 goals.
Avoca won the final against Natte Yallock by seven points and earned the right to challenge minor premiers, Redbank, in the Grand Final.
GRAND FINAL
Redbank
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1.2
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8.8
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10.11
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17.12.114
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Avoca
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5.1
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5.3
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10.7
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13.10.88
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Avoca Goals: Charlie Hutchison 3, Arthur Stuart 2, George Bevan 2, Paddy Ryan 2, Errol Howell 1, Claude Cunningham 1, Eric Stuart 1, Clem Hill 1.
Once again Paddy Ryan was Avoca’s top goalkicker with 37 goals and also tied with Claude Cunningham in the Best & Fairest.
Meanwhile Eric Stuart won the Association’s Best & Fairest player for the second consecutive year, thus cementing his name in local football history.
Go to 1937