By 1990 Avoca was starting to be respected as a very professionally run football club.
Seeds sown in the late 1980’s were now starting to blossom, and it was just a matter of time before the rewards would be reaped.
The club was securing lucrative sponsorships and attracting influential supporters.
The confident, professional atmosphere was contagious, and soon it would spread to the players, who were now coached by Michael Meade, who once worked as a printer for the great Tommy Hafey.
A former Richmond Reserves player, Michael was a top footballer with St Arnaud, in the North Central League.
In fact, his appointment at Avoca gave the club one of its best coaching panels ever with Garry Nelson, the local policeman, as Reserves Coach and Geoff Calder in charge of the Under 16’s.
The senior and reserves list was:
Michael Meade, Ian Fraser, Shane Jackson, Scott Howell, Tony James, Trevor Field, John Hind, Robert Redpath, Dale Cole, Paul Wardlaw, Craig Lallard, Steven Beavis, Peter Jolly, Scott Lewis, Mick Lynch, Michael Coghlan, Robert Fraser, Greg Wardlaw, Mick Arrowsmith, Gary Wardlaw, Nathan Gane, Ashley Howell, Dean Jolly, Anthony Cudmore, Robert Webb, Russell Wardlaw, John Webb, Gerard Best, Brendan Jolly, Paul and David Wardlaw, Paul Cocking, Neil McKechnie, Warren Howell, Chris Field, Jim Beavis, Phillip Dunne, Rodney James, Kris Sutton, Ron Beavis, Brett Cole, Matthew Powers, John Redpath, Aaron McHoul, Dale Harrison, Danny Stone, Stephen Bott, Doug Summers, Adrian Wren and Nick Farnsworth.
Besides being a highly respected footballer, Michael Meade was a person of great character.
Together with fellow coach’s Garry Nelson and Geoff Calder, Meade was responsible for lifting Avoca seniors, reserves and thirds to finish the season second on the ladder.
However the one stumbling block for the seniors had been Navarre, and it was a similar story in the second semi final.
SECOND SEMI FINAL
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Avoca
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2.3
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6.5
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7.5
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9.8.62
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Navarre
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2.1
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10.4
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17.8
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21.11.137
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Avoca Goals: Robert Fraser 2, Neil McKechnie 2, Greg Wardlaw 1, John Hind 1, Phillip Dunne 1, Shane Jackson 1, Robert Redpath 1.
Avoca Best: Scott Howell, Ashley Howell, Robert Fraser, Michael Meade, Peter Jolly, Ian Fraser.
Avoca quickly regrouped and convincingly defeated Marnoo by 44 points in the preliminary final.
PRELIMINARY FINAL
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Avoca
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5.7
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8.12
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10.16
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14.21.105
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Marnoo
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1.1
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3.1
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5.4
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9.7.61
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Avoca Goals: Michael Meade 4, John Hind 3, Robert Redpath 2, Phillip Dunne 1, Craig Lallard 1, Brendan Jolly 1, Mick Arrowsmith 1, Shane Jackson 1.
Avoca Best: Scott Howell, Ian Fraser, Brendan Jolly, Dean Jolly, Shane Jackson, Michael Meade.
Avoca suffered a major setback when a groin injury forced coach Michael Meade out of contention for the Grand Final.
Although the undermanned Bulldogs still played gallantly, Navarre was simply a far superior combination, winning by 82 points.
GRAND FINAL
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Avoca
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1.1
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6.6
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7.7
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9.12.66
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Navarre
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5.5
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5.7
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15.9
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24.21.165
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Avoca Goals: Robert Redpath 2, John Hind 2, Phillip Dunne 1, Trevor Field 1, Michael Coghlan 1, Steven Beavis 1, Robert Fraser 1.
Avoca Best: Shane Jackson, Dean Jolly, Michael Coghlan, Kris Sutton, Brendan Jolly, Trevor Field.
Avoca’s Seniors Grand Final team was:
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B:
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Steve Beavis
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Ian Fraser
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Ashley Howell
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HB:
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Peter Jolly
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Shane Jackson
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Kris Sutton
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C:
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Trevor Field
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Robert Fraser
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Dale Cole
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HF:
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Michael Coghlan
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Craig Lallard
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Phillip Dunne
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F:
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Tony James
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Robert Redpath
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Scott Howell
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R/R
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Dean Jolly
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Brendan Jolly
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John Hind
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Int:
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Scott Lewis
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Greg Wardlaw
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Navarre also had an exceptionally strong reserves side, and the reserves grand final was almost a carbon copy of the senior’s grand final with Avoca losing by 73 points.
RESERVES GRAND FINAL
Avoca 6.1.37 to Navarre 15.20.110
Avoca Goals: Neil McKechnie 2, Brett Cole 1, Stephen Bott 1, Jim Beavis 1, Dale Harrison 1.
Avoca Best: Chris Field, Russell Wardlaw, Paul Wardlaw, Gerard Best, Rod James, Gary Wardlaw.
Avoca’s Reserves Grand Final team was:
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B:
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John Redpath
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Russell Wardlaw
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Rod James
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HB:
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John Webb
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Anthony Cudmore
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Jim Beavis
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C:
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Ron Beavis
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Robert Webb
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Paul Cocking
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HF:
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Adrian Wren
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Gerard Best
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Warren Howell
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F:
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Dale Harrison
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Neil McKechnie
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Brett Cole
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R/R
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Chris Field
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Paul Wardlaw
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Gary Wardlaw
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Int:
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Aaron McHoul
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Nick Farnsworth
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Matt Powers
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Int:
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Stephen Bott
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Coach:
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Garry Nelson
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Although both Grand Finals’ were one sided, it was a very encouraging year for Avoca.
Thus the revolutionary blueprint unveiled in the late 1980’s was now being acknowledged as worthwhile.
At last the club had a solid foundation on which to build.
With responsible administrators, there seemed to be no reason why the Avoca Football Club could not remain a force forever.
During the season, Craig Lallard, John Hind and Trevor Field were selected in the Lexton league team.
Craig Jolly and Brad Wardlaw were selected in the Under 15 Ballarat All Star Team.
Unfortunately, Mark Blair injured his knee on a sprinkler at Ararat whilst playing with the Lexton league Under 17’s and later underwent a knee reconstruction.
Prior to the injury Carlton Football Club had extended mark an invitation to attend a special training camp.
The Senior’s Best & Fairest award was won by Michael Meade, with Ian Fraser Runner Up.
Ashley Howell won the Reserves B & F, whilst Craig Jolly was voted Best & Fairest for the Under 16’s.
Robert Redpath topped the goalkicking with 55 goals.
The Best Clubman award was presented to Alan Burge.
Ken Beavis, Geoff Calder and David Veitch who had all given the club outstanding service on and off the field, were honoured with Life Membership.
Despite the great progress made by the club in 1990, it was also a sad year with the passing of Life Member, Reg Pora.
Although Reg only played football for one season in 1936, he was a dedicated supporter who loved the club and gave generously of himself.
go to 1991
