Ovens & Murray: Adam Schneider-coached Lavington takes over ladder leadership

A Sydney Swans premiership player is on track to lead his O&M team into finals for the first time. See some other big movers in country footy.

Lavington will play finals in the Ovens & Murray league for the first time since winning the 2019 flag after disposing of Myrtleford by 41 points on Saturday.

The pacy Panthers moved to top spot on the ladder with their sixth successive win on the same day the club held a 20-year reunion for its most famous premiership win by one point against Myrtleford in 2005.

Charlie Sanson, the son of 2005 premiership coach Tim, kickstarted Lavington with two first term goals before the Panthers wrested total control in the second and third quarters to open a matchwinning 48-point lead at the last change.

Lavington controlled the midfield through Ed Perryman - the brother of Collingwod player Harry - Will and Jack Glanvill, Jack Costello and ruckman Shaun Driscoll.

Lavington coach Adam Schneider. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

Defenders Nick Paton and Jesse Hart were outstanding for the Panthers, who are coached by former Sydney and St Kilda player Adam Schneider.

“We’re hard to play against,” Schneider said.

Lavington will monitor hamstring injuries to Jono Spina and Nick Newton in the lead-up to its next match against reigning premier Wangaratta Rovers, who lost to sixth-placed Albury.

Nick Meredith, who hasn’t played since the 2019 grand final win alongside current AFL players Shaun Mannagh and Aidan Johnson, has suffered a setback on the comback trail.

He suffered a hamstring injury in his return match at reserves level a fortnight ago.

Myrtleford also has its injury concerns with Riley Calvene and Lachlan Murphy-Dale, the latter only recently returning from a broken jaw he suffered early in the season.

avington won the 2005 O&M grand final by one point with a goal after the siren.

Myrtleford is still banking on former AFL forward Matt Taberner playing more games in the second half of the season.

Lavington’s 2019 premiership coach Simon Curtis, who now players for Myrteford, was in the team’s best along with ruckman Riley Smith and Mitchell Tenardi.

HAMPDEN

Reigning premiers South Warrnambool responded to a last round shock loss to hand ladder leaders North Warrnambool its first loss on Saturday.

South crashed to ninth-placed Cobden seven days earlier before hitting back with a 19-point win against the previously undefeated Eagles, who have lost the last two grand finals to South.

South has battled injuries all season, but welcomed back co-captain Shannon Beks from a broken hand for his first match since round 3.

Terang-Mortlake coach Lewis Taylor booted three goals against Portland. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

South also had the services of brothers Wil and Jay Rantall, who were free of VFL commitments.

North Warrnambool coach Nathan Vardy is on the sidelines with a quad injury.

Portland, which started the season with four successive wins, lost to another team in the finals mix, Terang-Mortlake, by 13 points with coach Lewis Taylor booting three goals.

Portland sits level with fifth-placed Koroit and Terang-Mortlake with 6-5 win-loss records.

Koroit thumped Cobden by 69 points with key forward Sam Dobson booting six goals, his best return since returning to the Saints after two seasons with Geelong club St Mary’s.

NORTH CENTRAL

Birchip-Watchem and Calder United will meet in a potential grand final preview next round after recording important wins on Saturday.

The Bulls guaranteed the premiers of the last two seasons, Sea-Lake Nandaly, won’t finish with the double chance with a 40-point win despite leading goalkicker Ben Edwards being held to only two goals.

Calder United ended any remote chance Wedderburn had of playing finals with a 33-point win despite missing ruckman Dean Putt, star midfielder Matt Wade and Koby Lloyd.

Sea-Lake Nandaly has slipped to fourth, but is two matches clear of fifth-placed Wedderburn.

Birchip-Watchem put the result beyond doubt with five goals to one in the second term after leading by 10 points at quarter time.

Birchip-Watchem coach Ash Connick. Picture: Blake Lee

Meyrick Buchanan, Rhona Conboy and ruckman Hamish Hosking played starring for the Bulls who remain undefeated.

Calder United pushed them to two points when they played in round 4 and recently topped up with key forward Dale Pearce, who booted three goals in his second match, but was overshadowed by co-coach Jordy Humphreys, who kicked five.

Boort will return to finals this season and presently sits third on the ladder following a 161-point thrashing of Donald.

Jhye Baddeley-Kelly produced another Feeny Medal vote-catching performance with nine goals.

GIPPSLAND

A dominant final term display from reigning premiers Traralgon sent Moe crashing from top spot on the ladder for the first time since early May.

Traralgon’s second win this season against Moe enabled Leongatha to reclaim top spot after the Parrots thrashed Sale by 81 points.

Traralgon beat Moe by 21 points after the Lions drew within five points at the last change.

But a miraculous goal from the boundary line by Harvey Neocleous early in the final quarter swung momentum back the way of Traralgon, which kicked three goals to one in the last term to seal a crucial win.

The move from halfback to the forward line for Jackson McMahon again proved a masterstroke for Traralgon as he kicked another four goals to take his tally to 17 since the switch was made a month ago.

Tristen Waack was prominent for Traralgon with six intercept marks thwarting Moe advances on goals.

Moe’s Ben Crocker kicked three goals in the first half, but Traralgon limited his impact for the rest of the match.

Star onballer Myles Poholke appeared to carry a lower leg injury into the match as Moe is also without key defender Declan Keilty due to an ankle injury.

Warragul moved into the top five for the first time this season with a 34-point win against Morwell.

Warragul has a one-match break on Morwell, which fell to sixth, and the gap could grow next round when Warragul plays ninth-placed Sale and Morwell plays Traralgon.

Will Hayes was named in the best in his third match for Warragul and needs to play only one more match to qualify for finals provided he doesn’t play more than 12 matches at VFL level for Carlton.