Therry Penola stretches its unbeaten home record to 19 matches with thrilling VAFA Premier C triumph over Oakleigh

IT MIGHT be time to rename John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve The Fortress after Therry Penola snuck its 19th consecutive home win in the VAFA in a thriller against Oakleigh on Saturday.

VAFA Division 1 Football grand final: Williamstown CYMS V Therry Penola at Visy stadium. Therry Penola coach Denis Castaldi Picture: Mark Wilson

IT MIGHT be time to rename John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve The Fortress.

Since Dennis Castaldi took over as Therry Penola coach in 2013, the Lions have gone on a run of 19 consecutive home victories.

No Victorian Amateur Football Association Division 1 team got within 60 points of the Lions at their home ground last year, with their winning margin exceeding 70 points on six occasions.

The club has achieved an average winning margin of 70 points at home over the past two years, winning its way into Premier C in the process.

Therry Penola found the going much tougher against Oakleigh on Saturday, but managed to extend their unbeaten home record when the visitors missed a kick after the siren.

The 16.16 (112) to 16.15 (111) victory was bankrolled by seven goals from star forward Jarrod Bannister, while Brenton Egglestone and Lucas Ryan played prominent roles.

Castaldi said his side knew continuing its winning ways at home could prove to be the backbone of a successful campaign.

“Our main focus this year is to try and win every home game,” Castaldi said.

“I think that was our 19th home win in a row.

“If we can win every home game, or try and win every home game (and) pinch a couple away, who knows what could happen.

“Our main objective is to try and stay in C Grade, to consolidate, and we’ll be well on the way to doing it if we win every home game.”

Saturday’s win lifted Therry Penola to seventh on a congested Premier C ladder after it was beaten in the opening round of the campaign by Old Haileyburians.

“It was a good win. We were four goals down at three-quarter-time and it was good to get the monkey off the back you could say, I suppose,” Castaldi said.

“The message was just to keep doing what we’ve been doing for two years.

“We’ve got a certain style we play and whether we’re winning or losing we try and stick to it.

“It was just a bit of persistence. We thought they were tiring a little bit ... and we probably snatched it at the end.”

The Lions face Monash Blues away from home this weekend.

THERRY GOOD AT HOME

19-game winning streak at John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve

Biggest win: 109 points. Division 1, Round 5, 2014: Therry Penola 25.13 (163) def Bulleen Templestowe 8.6 (54).

Closest result: 1 point. Premier C, Round 2, 2015. Therry Penola 16.16 (112) def Oakleigh 16.15 (111).

Average home winning margin 2014: 80.3 points.

Average home winning margin 2013: 59.3 points.