The forthcoming reunion to celebrate past football & netball premierships will be held this weekend.
July 24th & 25th
The Reunion will celebrate the 1979,80,81 era of the Football section of the club. And the 1970, & 1990 Premierships of the Netball Section.
The 1986,87,88 & 89 Netball girls are also included in the netball celebrations as they achieved five premierships in a row.
The following info is about the 1979,80 & 1981 Football Years.
Season 1979
Seniors - Runners Up
Reserves - Premiers
Under 16’s – 4th
By 1979 Avoca had experienced a premiership drought that stretched 26 years.
There had been many periods of great expectation, but none realized the coveted senior premiership pennant.
The destiny of the Avoca Football Club was now clearly in the hands of Secretary Geoff Calder.
If the senior team failed to deliver yet again, there was grave danger that supporters and sponsors would lose faith, thus plunging the club into the depths of despair.
At the Annual Meeting, Ken Beavis was elected President, and immediately endorsed the work carried out by Geoff Calder the previous season, and also Phonse Liddle, who was an excellent Secretary.
This gave Geoff the confidence to continue his quest to conquer mountains.
Ron Deledio was appointed Coach, which proved a shrewd move, because it also attracted Wayne and Ron Deledio senior to the club.
Wayne, a school teacher at Redbank, was a former Carlton player, and ready made bush champion, whilst Ron senior was a highly respected and renowned for his astute football brain.
The coach also accepted the role of Treasurer, but was assisted by his wife, Patricia.
The aggressive recruiting program from 1978 continued, yielding Ken Kay, Mick King, Ron Saw, Barry Baker, Kerri Lythgo, and Eddie Miller.
Enthusiasm swept through the club like never before, with all three Avoca grades qualifying for the final series.
The senior team finished on top of the ladder and scored a comfortable 24 point victory over Moonambel in the second semi final.
2nd Semi Final
Avoca
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5.3
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10.6
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18.9
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24.13.157
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Moonambel
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4.4
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8.10
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12.13
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19.19.133
|
Best: Ken Kay, Peter Blair, Wayne Deledio, Victor Jenkins,
Geoff Drummond, Tony Haddow.
Goals: Ken Kay 6, Geoff Drummond 5, Richard Field 3,
Tony Haddow 3, Peter Blair 2, Wayne Deledio 1,
Ron Deledio 1, Victor Jenkins 1,Gerard Darcy 1,
Wayne Veitch 1.
The week’s rest did little to help Avoca, with Moonambel leading for most of the Grand Final and eventually winning the premiership by 27 points.
Grand Final
Avoca
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3.5
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11.5
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11.8
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17.13.115
|
Moonambel
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8.2
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11.5
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19.15
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21.16.142
|
Best: Wayne Veitch, Leon Bradley, Wally Constable, Ron Deledio,
Wayne Deledio.
Goals: Wayne Veitch 6, Wayne Deledio 3, Richard Field 2,
Gerard Darcy 2, John Jess 1, Tony Haddow 1, Eddie Miller 1.
Ken Kay 1??.
Avoca Reserves coached by John Field and Captained by Stuart Sutter, were ultimately triumphant, but caused some hearts to flutter along the journey.
Trailing Moonambel by two points in the second semi final, Wayde Thiele marked the ball 60 metres out on the boundary.
Despite the final siren ringing in his ears, Wayde remained ice cool as he unleashed a massive kick which split the goal posts, giving Avoca victory by four points.
Reserves 2nd Semi Final
Avoca
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4.2
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7.3
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10.3
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15.6.96
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Moonambel
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3.3
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8.8
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11.10
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13.14.92
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Best: Geoff Calder, Jack Wardlaw, Lloyd Astbury, Dale Templeton,
Wayde Thiele.
Goals: ????
The Grand Final against Lexton was also a tense affair.
Despite inaccuracy, Avoca won the match by four points.
Reserves Grand Final
Avoca
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|
|
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7.18.60
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Lexton
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|
|
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8.8.56
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Best: Stuart Sutter, Geoff Collins, Geoff Calder, Peter Coghlan,
Dale Templeton,
Goals: Stuart Sutter 6, ?????
This was the first time Avoca has won a Reserves Grade Premiership since 1962.
Although Avoca Under 16’s were eliminated by Navarre in the first semi final, the team contained young players who would soon emerge to play a significant role in shaping the club’s destiny.
Even though the premiership proved elusive in 1979, Wayne Deledio brought honour to the club and himself by winning the Lexton League Best & Fairest award.
Wayne polled 27 votes, 14 clear of his nearest rival.
He also won the Maffescioni Award and the club’s Best & Fairest Trophy.
Reserves captain, Stuart Sutter, received the club’s Best & Fairest award, whilst Craig Trickey was the top vote getter for the Under 16’s.
Life Memberships were presented to two of the most popular and hard working identities, Gwen Matthews and her husband, Mick.
Appropriately, Geoff Calder received the award for Best Clubman.
Season 1980
Seniors - Premiers
Reserves - Runners Up
Under 16’s – 5th
After two years of careful planning and patient building, the Bulldogs were entitled to be optimistic that 1980 would be the season that broke the drought.
The fruits of plain hard work were starting to appear.
Young players who had been recruited previously remained with the club and combined perfectly with the raw local talent that had been carefully nurtured.
Under the leadership of President KenBeavis and Geoff Calder, the club was maturing on and off the filed.
Although the senior team finished third on the ladder, coach Ron Deledio brought them to their peak with perfect timing, eliminating Navarre by 67 points in the first semi final.
First Semi Final
Avoca
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5.8
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8.14
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16.23
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24.28.172
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Navarre
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3.1
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11.4
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13.6
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16.9.105
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Best: Wayne Deledio, Tony Haddow, David Veitch, Peter Drummond,
Tony Wines.
Goals: Geoff Drummond 6, Wayne Deledio 3, Tony Haddow 3,
Gerard Darcy 3, Gavin Slater 2, Brendan Williams 1,
Tony Wines 1, David Edwards 1, John Jess 1,
Paul Constable 1, David Veitch 1, Darren Curtis 1.
Avoca’s thrust towards the premiership saw them score a massive 80 point victory over Lexton in the Preliminary Final.
Preliminary Final
Avoca
|
6.7
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9.10
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16.13
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22.17.149
|
Lexton
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3.2
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5.7
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7.15
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9.15.69
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Best: Peter Drummond, Richard Field, Wayne Deledio, Tony Meade,
John Jess.
Goals: Wayne Deledio 4, Brendan Williams 4, Gavin Slater 4,
David Veitch 2, Geoff Drummond 2, Paul Constable 2,
David Edwards 1, Tony Haddow 1, Gerard Darcy 1,
Richard Field 1.
After fasting for 27 years, Avoca was ravenous for the taste of a premiership.
However early in the Grand Final several players appeared nervous, and the team trailed Natte Bealiba at quarter time.
During the short break, coach Ron Deledio took time to calm his chargers, and they listened.
After seizing the lead in the second quarter, Avoca methodically took control of the match, running out victorious by 31 points, in what is now known as the first of the drought breaking premierships.
Grand Final
Avoca
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1.5
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4.9
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8.15
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11.17.83
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Natte-Bealiba
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2.4
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2.7
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3.7
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7.10.52
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Best: Peter Drummond, Tony Haddow, Wayne Deledio, John Jess,
David Edwards.
Goals: Geoff Drummond 5, Brendan Williams 2, Gerard Darcy 2,
Wayne Deledio 1, Paul Constable 1.
1980 Premiership Team
Backs:
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Leon Bradley
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Peter Drummond
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Wallace Constable
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|
|
|
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H-Backs:
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Ron Deledio
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Mick Spencer
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Tony Meade
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|
|
|
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Centres:
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John Jess
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Tony Haddow
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David Edwards
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|
|
|
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H-Forwards:
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Tony Wines
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Brendan Williams
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Paul Constable
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|
|
|
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Forwards:
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Geoff Drummond
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Gavin Slater
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Gerard Darcy
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|
|
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Rucks/Rover:
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Richard Field
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Wayne Deledio
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David Veitch
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|
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Int'change:
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Tony Falls
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Frank Simpson
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|
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|
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|
|
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Runner - Peter Jess
Played at Moonambel.
Inaccuracy probably cost Avoca the honour of winning the premiership double, with the Reserves losing to Natte-Bealiba by six points.
Reserves Grand Final
Avoca
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0.2
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3.2
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3.7
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4.8.32
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Natte
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3.1
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5.1
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5.1
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6.2.38
|
Best: Greg Morley, Craig Trickey, Mick Hanns, Adrian Coleman,
Les Evans
Goals: Gerald Meagher 1, Tony Clancy 1, Greg Jess 1,
Jack Wardlaw 1.
It was a jubilant season for Wayne Deledio, who became only the second Avoca player to win consecutive Lexton League Best & Fairest awards.. The other was Eric Stuart in 1937. Wayne also won the club best player award, and was voted best afield in the Beaurepaire Shield match between Lexton and Western Plains Leagues.
Geoff Drummond headed the club’s goal kicking with 71 goals, which included bags of ten and fourteen goals against Marnoo and Landsborough respectively.
The Reserves Best & Fairest award went to Adrian “Charlie” Coleman, and the Under 16’s to Anthony Cudmore.
Season 1981
Seniors - Premiers
Reserves - 3rd
Under 16’s – 4th
Success breeds success, and Avoca approached the 1981 season convinced they had what it takes to win successive premierships, a feat that had eluded the club for more than half a century.
Despite the departure of Wayne Deledio, it seemed the Bulldogs could do no wrong.
Coach Ron Deledio was appointed to lead the Lexton League team, and Avoca players selected included Peter Drummond, Michael Spencer, Leon Bradley, John Vallance, Brendan Williams, David Edwards, Richard Field, Tony Wines and David Veitch.
L.F.L 6.5, 11.9, 19.14, 24.19.163
defeated Mt Noorat 1.3, 7.9, 7.10, 10.8.68
Dave Edwards & John Vallance both kicked 4 goals for L.F.L.
L.F.L 9.5.59 lost to Geelong.D.F.L 25.11.161
Ron Deledio, John Vallance, David Veitch and Julian Kaye (Lexton) represented a Victorian Country team in New Zealand.
Avoca finished the season on top of the ladder, but the Bulldogs had to dig deep to overcome a determined Natte Bealiba in the second semi final.
2nd Semi Final
Avoca
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5.5
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7.10
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9.12
|
14.17.101
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Natte-Bealiba
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4.4
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7.7
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11.8
|
14.10.94
|
Best: Brendan Williams, Ron Deledio, Robert Kemp, Gerard Darcy,
Peter Drummond.
Goals: David Edwards 3, Gerard Darcy 2, Adrian Coleman 2,
Brendan Williams 2, David Veitch 1, Mark Reeves 1,
Tony Falls 1, John Vallance 1, Wayde Thiele 1.
Avoca was never in danger against Lexton in the Grand Final, running out winners by 43 points.
Grand Final
Avoca
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6.4
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12.8
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17.12
|
20.20.140
|
Lexton
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3.2
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5.6
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8.9
|
14.13.97
|
Best: Gerard Darcy, Peter Drummond, Brendan Williams,
John Vallance, Tony Wines.
Goals: Tony Wines 5, Brendan Williams 4, Gerard Darcy 3,
John Vallance 3, David Veitch 2, John Jess 1,
Wayde Thiele 1, David Edwards 1.
Avoca’s Reserves made it through to the Preliminary Final, but a six point deficit against Lexton cost them the opportunity to play in the Grand Final, whilst in the Under 16’s, Marnoo eliminated Avoca in the First semi final.
Reserves 2nd semi
Avoca
|
|
|
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3.6.24
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Natte- Bealiba
|
|
|
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13.10.88
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Best: Michael Barker, Greg Jess, Jack Wardlaw, Tony Lakey,
Brett Gilbey.
Goals: Daryl Wardlaw, Darren Curtis, Mick Hanns.
Reserves Preliminary Final
Avoca
|
|
|
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8.7.55
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Lexton
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|
|
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8.13.61
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Best: Rowan Astbury, Craig Trickey, Greg Jess, Shane Clohesy,
David Reeves.
Goals: David Reeves 2, Tony Lakey 2, Anthony Cudmore 2,
Jack Wardlaw 1, Kim Raven 1.
Under 16's 1st Semi Final
Avoca
|
|
|
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6.7.43
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Marnoo
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|
|
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10.7.67
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Best: Peter Jolly, Craig Lallard, Dale Marshall, Steve Carey,
Bill Clohesy.
Goals: Scott Penrice 3, Paul Medwell 1, Peter Jolly 1, Bill Clohesy 1.
David Edwards polled 41 votes to win the club’s Best & Fairest Award.
Tony Wines was Runner Up and also won the club’s goal kicking award with 59 goals.
Mark Reeves received the Reserves Best Player award, with Rowan Astbury Runner Up.
Peter Jolly polled a massive 107 votes to win the Under 16’s Best & Fairest award from Anthony Cudmore, who received the Runner Up award.
For the second year in succession, Ross Dawson was presented with the Best Clubman award.
Last Modified on 13/02/2011 13:27