Lovison’s Lions slowed the game to a walk against Nagambie in the final minutes of an intense battle on Saturday, taking a two-point win against last year’s grand finalist despite having eight less scoring shots.
The coach led a defence which regularly rushed the ball through the goals to ensure Nagambie did not have repeat opportunities to score. The result was a 7.8 (50) to 5.18 (48) scoreline, Nagambie having 2.15 on the board at half time.
It was a significant result given the Lions, in a quirk of the KDL draw, face top of the ladder Murchison-Toolamba twice within the space of the next four weeks.
They also have to contend with second ranked Lancaster in that period of time, this weekend’s general bye coming at a good time as Stanhope prepares for its charge to the line.
Lovison’s coaching record is now 7-3 and comes on the back of him switching the leading goalkicker of 2023, Tom Rennie, to full back in a negating role on Tallygaroopna man mountain Brent Arho earlier in the season.
He described the last quarter as intense, the Lions kicking an early goal after leading by a point at three quarter time.
“We had the lead for most of the game they managed to get in front in the last and had the ball in there forward half for a majority of the quarter,” Lovison said.
“With about a minute left we got the ball forward where Jason Leocata marked and goaled, in the wet, from about 40 (metres) out.”
Lovison said he envoked the “slow down” methods which had worked for his team against other highly ranked teams and the siren finally went after an almost 34-minute long quarter.
The tension was not done at the final siren as the umpires had to check the score due to the scoreboard not being correct during the game.
The final result, a two-point Stanhope win.
“It was a massive win and gives us a really good shot at making finals now, considering we have those three big games to come,” he said.
“We were probably fighting Nagambie for a spot.”
Lovison said Blake McAuliffe’s midfield clearance work and the two goals from Tom Rennie were vital in the win, while the negating role of Anthony Huismann on Blake Fothergill was also vital to the result.
“It was probably his best game as we gave him a job and he performed it really well,” Lovison said.
Daniel Flynn and Daniel Maher swapped forward and in the ruck, while recruit Tyson McKenzie kicked one goal and spent more time in the midfield due to Jack Young’s absence.
Defender Stuart Trevena’s attack on the ball and tackling was massive, including a run down tackle in the final term that stopped an almost certain goal.
"Our goal at the start of the year was to knock off a top four side that we couldn’t get near last year and we have done that. We now have set our sights on knocking off a top two side and presenting a real problem for the other teams come finals’ time,“ he said.
– Nine goals to one after half time has the Stanhope reserve grade team sitting fourth on the ladder with the challenge of facing the top two teams in three of the next four weeks.
A 42-point win on Saturday came via a best on ground effort from the in form Daniel Brock, while Shannon Aynsley took his impressive goals tally to 39 from nine games with another three in the victory.
Harry Wilkie, Layne Baker (who has 27 goals himself from six reserve grade games) and the Canny boys, Matthew and Brad, were the best players for Stanhope.
