Kick after the siren settles Thornton Eildon’s first win in two years over Yea
Shane Barrand etched himself into Thornton Eildon folklore when he kicked the goal which ended one of Victoria’s longest local footy winless runs.
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One of local footy’s longest droughts ended in dramatic fashion at Yea on Saturday when Thornton Eildon recorded its first win in almost two years.
Going into the match on the back of a 25-game losing streak in AFL Outer East Division 2, the Shinboners secured a long-awaited win when Shane Barrand’s left-foot shot after the siren sailed through, clincing a 9.12 (66) to 9.9 (63) triumph.
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“There were a lot of tears around, including yours truly,” club president David Stirling said.
“It was pretty emotional. A win both clubs obviously desperately needed.
“We’ve had a pretty tough couple of years.
:Certainly the game was played in the right spirits. I did feel for the other team as well to lose the way they did.
“It was really emotional for us as club, supporters and particularly the new players to the club.
“It was really good to get over the line.”
With scores tight throughout the encounter, nerves got the better of both teams during a tense third term, but the game opened up in the final quarter.
The visitors kicked the first two goals to lead by nine points, only for one of their players to be sent from the field after about 10 minutes.
In a flash, the Boners were trailing, and then nine points down.
With the result looking beyond reach, first-year player Ryan Anderson kicked a goal from the boundary and the ball was back in the middle of the ground with 50 seconds to go.
“We moved it forward out of the centre, a short kick went in between two blokes and Barrand took a strong mark, went back and slotted it,” Stirling said.
The result caps a marvellous turnaround for the club, coming back from a torrid end to 2018, when it conceded 951 points in the last three games of the year.
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The team’s last win in July, 2017 was also against Yea.
Stirling said changes were needed to ensure the club could continue.
“The last bit of last season was terrible, we knew that,” he said.
“We didn’t have the players, the players lost faith.
“We set out a goal to recruit 12 players by Christmas. We achieved that goal and by the end of February around 20 new blokes had rolled up.
“I was really pleased with what we did in the off-season.
“It’s reward for everybody around the club. We have got a really good ethic.
“It is what we believe in.
“We have some really strong past players who really want the club to continue and succeed.”
The club is looking forward to a Ladies Day on July 13, with money to go towards the Alice Sloan Trust.
Meanwhile, Yarra Junction remains a game clear at the top of the ladder after a 16.12 (108) to 11.8 (74) win at Alexandra while Seville hosted Kinglake and won 20.10 (130) to 8.6 (54) and Yarra Glen had a 12.11 (83) to 9.8 (62) win over Gembrook Cockatoo. Powelltown had the bye.