One of the great Kyabram District League powerhouse clubs is destined to return to the main stage of senior football if Saturday’s clinical under-18 grand final triumph is anything to go by.
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The Lakers secured their first thirds flag in 14 years after their teenage stars clinched a 20-point win over Lancaster in soggy and wet conditions at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
The club’s emerging stars and next group of household names, Will Dalton, Blake Ezard, Reilly Old, Luke Cornfoot and Will O’Brien enjoyed influential performances and registered their own glimpses of individual brilliance.
Long before the 8.6 (54) to 4.10 (34) result, Nagambie began its premiership campaign with less than a dozen players to its name and with a 0-2 record.
Premiership coach Leigh Fox said it had been a gruelling year for his talented young charges, but the hard work had paid off.
“It’s been a hard year. We started the year off with only nine players, so there was a lot of phone calls and a lot of hard work,” Fox said.
“We just stuck to the program we had and got our first win and from there we found some belief. It’s been tough for these young men with COVID and everything and not being able to play.
“The bunch of young men are sensational to coach.”
Nagambie began the contest in a flurry and it was classy forward Ezard who was the prime mover of the charge.
Ezard slotted three goals before the first break and added another two to his tally to walk off the ground with five of his side’s eight goals.
Teammate and best-on-ground medallist Dalton showcased why he played 18 games of senior football in 2022.
Dalton’s ability to win the ball around the contests and hit the scoreboard caught the eye of many.
But it was also some of the efforts of Ayden Preab and Ryan Coll that impressed Fox as well.
“We’ve got 11 kids under the age of 21 playing both seniors and thirds and it puts us in good stead,” Fox said.
“We’ve had a bit of a rebuild at the club and we want to make it a club where it’s family-oriented and we get results as well.
“I just want to say thank you to all the volunteers who have helped us reach this point and now we can enjoy the win.”
KDL under-18s
Nagambie 4.1, 6.2, 6.4, 8.6 (54)
Lancaster 1.2, 1.4, 3.6, 4.10 (34)
Best
Nagambie: Blake Ezard, William Dalton, Luke Cornfoot, Edward Perry, Luke Old, Morgan Donovan
Lancaster: *not supplied
Goals
Nagambie: Blake Ezard 5, William Dalton, Tom Mason, Flynn O’Brien
Lancaster: Nathan Mackison 2, Nathan Oliver, Riley Williams