Avoca was entitled to approach the 1972 season with confidence.
However, the reigning premiers, Lexton, had not been idle over the summer and again emerged as the team to beat, and became stronger as the season grew.
Avoca’s senior players were:
Terry Long (Captain/Coach), Ron Verlin, Eddie Wardlaw, Lance Farnsworth, Peter Jess, Alf Hunter, Alan Murphy, Brian Coghlan, Bill Wardlaw, John Evans, Neville Field, Dale Farnsworth, Mark Drummond, Lloyd Gollop, Pat Harrison, Don Rayner, Jim Jess, George Wardlaw, Keith Chiswell, Rob Astbury, Ross Rankin, Paul Gothard, Alan Burge, David Ross and Bruce Farnsworth.
Six Avoca players were selected in the Lexton Football League side: Jim Jess, Neville Field, Keith Chiswell, Gary McKenzie, George Wardlaw, and Brian Coghlan, who was voted best afield.
Dale Farnsworth and Mark Drummond were selected in the Under 15 LFL Under 19 team, whilst Geoff Drummond and Phil Holland were picked to represent the LFL Under 16 team.
Seventeen year old Jim Jess featured in the individual highlight of the season. After being switched from Full back to Full Forward in a match against Amphitheatre, Jim proceeded to boot 16 goals to smash the Lexton league record set two weeks prior by Landsborough’s Laurie Ploughman with 14 goals.
After finishing in second position, Avoca were quickly brought back to size when they were overwhelmed by Lexton in the second semi final.
SECOND SEMI FINAL
Avoca
|
3.2
|
8.7
|
11.7
|
12.14.86
|
Lexton
|
6.2
|
12.8
|
19.11
|
28.13.181
|
Avoca Goals: Brian Coghlan 4, Rob Astbury 3, Jim Jess 1, George Wardlaw 1, Peter Jess 1, David Ross 1, Ron Verlin 1.
Avoca Best: Jim Jess, George Wardlaw, Rob Astbury, Keith Chiswell, Terry Long.
Avoca regrouped and won the Preliminary Final convincingly, beating Navarre by 47 points.
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Avoca
|
3.5
|
7.11
|
13.14
|
18.21.129
|
Navarre
|
3.2
|
5.3
|
8.5
|
12.10.82
|
Avoca Goals: Rob Astbury 7, Brian Coghlan 4, Terry Long 2, Neville Field 1, Dale Farnsworth 1, Ron Verlin 1, Paul Gothard 1, Mark Drummond 1.
Avoca Best: Rob Astbury, Keith Chiswell, Neville Field, George Wardlaw, Jim Jess.
In a tension packed Grand Final, Lexton came from behind to snatch the premiership by 20 points.
GRAND FINAL
Avoca
|
2.1
|
4.6
|
5.9
|
5.11.41
|
Lexton
|
2.5
|
2.11
|
3.16
|
6.25.61
|
Avoca Goals: Brian Coghlan 2, Rob Astbury 2, Paul Gothard 1.
Avoca Best: Neville Field, Jim Jess, Keith Chiswell, Lance Farnsworth, George Wardlaw.
Jim Jess dominated the club awards, winning the Best & Fairest award, as well as Best Under 20 and Best Under 18.
George Wardlaw was Most determined and Brian Coghlan topped the goal kicking with 69 goals.
The Reserves Best & Fairest award was won by Bruce Farnsworth and the Under 15’s by Phillip Holland.
The club awarded Life Memberships to Reg Pora and Frank Kaye, whilst John Field was Best Clubman.
go to 1973