The efforts to make a more professional club overall started to reap dividends in 1988.
Peter Tuohey, a stock and station agent with Elders, was appointed coach and, although several good players were cleared, the club offset this with vigorous recruiting.
The Bulldogs stocks were boosted enormously with the return of David Edwards, already recognized as one of Avoca’s best post-war footballers.
The senior and reserves players list was:
Peter Tuohey, David Edwards, Adrian McCormick, Trevor Field, Brendan Jolly, Neil Le Nepveu, Peter Jolly, Shane Meade, Geoff Waldron, Shane Jackson, Richard Astbury, Steven Beavis, Robert Redpath, Ian Fraser, Tony James, Steve Carey, Craig Lallard, Michael Coghlan, Robert Fraser, Greg Jess, Scott Lewis, Tony Slater, Greg Wardlaw, Stephen Bott, John Webb, Mick Arrowsmith, Robert Webb, David Veitch, Anthony Cudmore, Peter Palling, Jason Griffiths, Darren Edwards, Grant Baldwinson, Paul Cocking, Scott Howell, Russell Wardlaw, Ashley Howell, Dale Marshall, Jayson McLeish, Greg Corcoran, Wayne Patterson, Nathan Gane, Dean Jolly, Damian Harrison, Danny Stone, Tony Meade.
Four Avoca players were selected in the LFL side, including David Edwards, Shane Meade, Brendan Jolly and Richard Astbury.
Teenagers Matthew Jess and Paul Wardlaw gave notice that they were players of the future when selected in the Under 15 combined country side.
After finishing the season second on the ladder, Avoca were entitled to be confident about its prospects.
However, their aspirations received a huge setback when Shane Meade broke his ankle on the eve of the finals whilst wrestling at home with Collingwood footballer, Mick McGuane.
Navarre dominated the second semi final, winning by 58 points.
SECOND SEMI FINAL
|
Avoca
|
2.3
|
3.3
|
4.5
|
4.6.30
|
|
Navarre
|
4.3
|
9.4
|
11.6
|
13.10.88
|
Avoca Goals: Craig Lallard 2, Michael Coghlan 1, Brendan Jolly 1.
Avoca Best: Neil Le Nepveu, Trevor Field, Steven Beavis, Ian Fraser, Peter Tuohey.
The Preliminary Final was also disappointing, With Lexton leading all day to win by 35 points.
PRELIMINARY FINAL
|
Avoca
|
3.1
|
5.5
|
6.8
|
7.9.51
|
|
Lexton
|
5.3
|
9.5
|
11.6
|
13.8.86
|
Avoca Goals: Craig Lallard 2, Steve Carey 2, Neil Le Nepveu 1, Ian Fraser 1, Robert Redpath 1.
Avoca Best: Peter Tuohey, Steven Beavis, Ian Fraser, Neil Le Nepveu, Tony James.
After finishing third, the Under 16’s performed creditably to reach the Preliminary Final where the were eliminated by Navarre.
UNDER 16 PRELIMINARY FINAL
Avoca 3.1.19 to Navarre 9.5.59
Avoca Goals: Gary Wardlaw 1, Mick Wardlaw 1, Matt Jess 1.
Avoca Best: Scott Howell, Gary Wardlaw, Mark Blair, John Redpath, Craig Jolly.
For the fourth time, David Edwards won the club’s Best & Fairest award, with Adrian McCormick Runner Up.
Old timers were ready to concede that David now deserved to be ranked amongst Avoca’s all time greats.
Robert Redpath was the club’s main goal kicker with 38 goals.
In the Reserves, Steven Beavis was Best & Fairest, a remarkable effort considering he also polled eleven votes in the seniors, and was voted best finals player.
Scott Howell won the Under 16 Best & Fairest award and was Runner Up in the Lexton League equivalent.
Once again Geoff Calder’s outstanding service to the club was recognized when he received the Best Clubman Award.
go to 1989
