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 Ken Beavis 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
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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
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Avoca
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6.7
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9.10
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16.13
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22.17.149
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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 charges, 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
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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
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Backs:
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Leon Bradley
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Peter Drummond
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Wallace Constable
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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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Centres:
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John Jess
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Tony Haddow
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David Edwards
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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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Forwards:
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Geoff Drummond
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Gavin Slater
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Gerard Darcy
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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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Int'change:
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Tony Falls
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Frank Simpson
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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
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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
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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.
Go to 1981
