Season 1979
Seniors - Runners Up
Reserves - Premiers
Under 16’s – 4th
By 1979 Avoca had experienced a premiership drought that stretched 26 years.
There had been many periods of great expectation, but none realized the coveted senior premiership pennant.
The destiny of the Avoca Football Club was now clearly in the hands of Secretary Geoff Calder.
If the senior team failed to deliver yet again, there was grave danger that supporters and sponsors would lose faith, thus plunging the club into the depths of despair.
At the Annual Meeting, Ken Beavis was elected President, and immediately endorsed the work carried out by Geoff Calder the previous season, and also Phonse Liddle, who was an excellent Secretary.
This gave Geoff the confidence to continue his quest to conquer mountains.
Ron Deledio was appointed Coach, which proved a shrewd move, because it also attracted Wayne and Ron Deledio senior to the club.
Wayne, a school teacher at Redbank, was a former Carlton player, and ready made bush champion, whilst Ron senior was a highly respected and renowned for his astute football brain.
The coach also accepted the role of Treasurer, but was assisted by his wife, Patricia.
The aggressive recruiting program from 1978 continued, yielding Ken Kay, Mick King, Ron Saw, Barry Baker, Kerri Lythgo, and Eddie Miller.
Enthusiasm swept through the club like never before, with all three Avoca grades qualifying for the final series.
The senior team finished on top of the ladder and scored a comfortable 24 point victory over Moonambel in the second semi final.
2nd Semi Final
|
Avoca
|
5.3
|
10.6
|
18.9
|
24.13.157
|
|
Moonambel
|
4.4
|
8.10
|
12.13
|
19.19.133
|
Best: Ken Kay, Peter Blair, Wayne Deledio, Victor Jenkins,
Geoff Drummond, Tony Haddow.
Goals: Ken Kay 6, Geoff Drummond 5, Richard Field 3,
Tony Haddow 3, Peter Blair 2, Wayne Deledio 1,
Ron Deledio 1, Victor Jenkins 1,Gerard Darcy 1,
Wayne Veitch 1.
The week’s rest did little to help Avoca, with Moonambel leading for most of the Grand Final and eventually winning the premiership by 27 points.
Grand Final
|
Avoca
|
3.5
|
11.5
|
11.8
|
17.13.115
|
|
Moonambel
|
8.2
|
11.5
|
19.15
|
21.16.142
|
Best: Wayne Veitch, Leon Bradley, Wally Constable, Ron Deledio,
Wayne Deledio.
Goals: Wayne Veitch 6, Wayne Deledio 3, Richard Field 2,
Gerard Darcy 2, John Jess 1, Tony Haddow 1, Eddie Miller 1.
Ken Kay 1??.
Avoca Reserves coached by John Field and Captained by Stuart Sutter, were ultimately triumphant, but caused some hearts to flutter along the journey.
Trailing Moonambel by two points in the second semi final, Wayde Thiele marked the ball 60 metres out on the boundary.
Despite the final siren ringing in his ears, Wayde remained ice cool as he unleashed a massive kick which split the goal posts, giving Avoca victory by four points.
Reserves 2nd Semi Final
|
Avoca
|
4.2
|
7.3
|
10.3
|
15.6.96
|
|
Moonambel
|
3.3
|
8.8
|
11.10
|
13.14.92
|
Best: Geoff Calder, Jack Wardlaw, Lloyd Astbury, Dale Templeton,
Wayde Thiele.
Goals: ????
The Grand Final against Lexton was also a tense affair.
Despite inaccuracy, Avoca won the match by four points.
Reserves Grand Final
|
Avoca
|
|
|
|
7.18.60
|
|
Lexton
|
|
|
|
8.8.56
|
Best: Stuart Sutter, Geoff Collins, Geoff Calder, Peter Coghlan,
Dale Templeton,
Goals: Stuart Sutter 6, ?????
This was the first time Avoca has won a Reserves Grade Premiership since 1962.
Although Avoca Under 16’s were eliminated by Navarre in the first semi final, the team contained young players who would soon emerge to play a significant role in shaping the club’s destiny.
Even though the premiership proved elusive in 1979, Wayne Deledio brought honour to the club and himself by winning the Lexton League Best & Fairest award.
Wayne polled 27 votes, 14 clear of his nearest rival.
He also won the Maffescioni Award and the club’s Best & Fairest Trophy.
Reserves captain, Stuart Sutter, received the club’s Best & Fairest award, whilst Craig Trickey was the top vote getter for the Under 16’s.
Life Memberships were presented to two of the most popular and hard working identities, Gwen Matthews and her husband, Mick.
Appropriately, Geoff Calder received the award for Best Clubman.
go to 1980
