When dual premiership coach Ron Deledio left Avoca, former Maryborough player Adrian Jacobs had big shoes to fill when he accepted the coaching job.
But Adrian, a school teacher, rose to the occasion, and along with Peter Drummond, David Edwards and Gerard Darcy, was selected in the Lexton League team.
Adrian and Peter Drummond were amongst Lexton’s best players.
1982 will be remembered as the year long-standing individual records tumbled.
Gerard Darcy became the first Avoca player to kick 100 goals in a season. More info on following link. (Gerard Darcy)
The gutsy Rover’s tally of 115 included a new club record of 22 goals in one game.
Earlier in the season, John Jess kicked 16 goals from the half forward flank to equal the club record set by his brother, Jim Jess in 1972.
Playing against Moonambel on May 8, 1982, Avoca kicked a club and league record score of 57.23.365 to 3.3.21
To top of the home and away part of the season, David Edwards won the Maffescioni Award.
But that is where Avoca’s good fortune seemed to run out.
After finishing second on the ladder, Avoca received a hiding from Navarre in the second semi final.
SECOND SEMI FINAL
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Avoca
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3.6
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9.13
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11.16
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11.18.84
|
|
Navarre
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2.7
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8.11
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13.16
|
19.21.135
|
Avoca Goals: Gerard Darcy 5, David Edwards 3, Adrian Jacobs 3.
Avoca Best: David Edwards, Mark Reeves, Tony Meade, Adrian Jacobs, Brendan Williams.
Avoca’s performance in the Preliminary Final was much more creditable, but Natte-Bealiba proved too good on the day, winning by two points.
PRELIMINARY FINAL
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Avoca
|
2.4
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6.8
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9.11
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11.13.79
|
|
Natte-Bealiba
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4.4
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5.8
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8.12
|
11.15.81
|
Avoca Goals: Adrian Coleman 2, Jim Sutherland 2, Norm Jacobsen 2, Davis Edwards 2, Richard Field 1, Mark Pekin 1, David Veitch 1.
Avoca Best: Peter Drummond, Mark Reeves, John Jess, Robert Kemp, Tony Falls.
Playing in the First Semi Final, the Reserves were also eliminated in a thrilling match, losing by one point to Dunolly.
The Under 16 season came to an abrupt end when they were beaten by 51 points in the Preliminary Final against Landsborough.
David Edwards again won the club Best & Fairest from Graeme Alexander.
The Reserves Best player was Michael Coghlan, with Craig Trickey Runner Up.
In the Under 16’s, Peter Jolly was voted Best & Fairest and Steve Carey Runner Up.
The Best Clubman Award was presented to Leon Bradley.
1982 is also remembered as the year that the Avoca Grandstand mysteriously caught fire and burned to the ground.
The size of the crowd that turned out in the middle of the night was as big as a grand final attendance.
go to 1983
