What a day: Avenel club great Paul Arandt enjoyed a memorable 300th milestone match.
Photo by
Bransen Gibson
Avenel Recreation Reserve has experienced its fair share of memorable moments in recent memory.
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Former coach Kasey Duncan sent the crowd into raptures in 2021 with a goal in the dying seconds that delivered an incredible comeback win over arch-rival Nagambie, while last year the Swans defeated the eventual reigning premier by nine points.
But on Saturday, punters experienced one of the loudest roars to have rung out across the Swans’ home ground.
The cheers and roar of the crowd was loudest from the Great ‘’Subba’’ Stand ― created for one day only as a club favourite celebrated game 300.
Avenel stalwart Paul Arandt became the first Swan to make 300 appearances in his side’s 50-point demolition of Undera in Saturday’s Kyabram District League round 14 encounter.
With a 37-point lead going into the final quarter the crowd wanted to see a goal from the milestone man.
When the talented ruckman marked 20m out from goal in front of the Great Subba Stand the crowd went wild, until hands were on heads as his kick missed to the left.
Drawing a crowd: The Great Subba Stand. Photo: Hamish Donaldson
Photo by
Hamish Donaldson
The rowdy Swans faithful were in a frenzy moments later as Arandt marked and goaled which sent the crowd into raptures.
It was a perfect way to close out the game for the Swans
While getting the win for Arandt was the priority for the Swans, the win moves the side up to seventh on the table.
Speaking to the Seymour Telegraph Avenel coach Matt Huy said he was thrilled to celebrate the club great in style.
“It was all about Subba today, so we got the win done for him and that was the message to the boys all day,” Huy said.
“He’s given everything to the club for 300 games and it was about time that we repaid him.
“He’s the old statesman of the club. The biggest reason probably this club is the way they are, just the way Subba is, he’s massive for the club.
“I was really impressed with Dylan Hoysted’s game, you’ve got a handful of players who are up there (in contention for best-on-ground).
“Lachlan Watts in the backline played really great, Thomas Tobin through the middle played really well, Braydon Avola played really well.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of boys I could have given that (best-on) to.”
Meanwhile, Murchison-Toolamba’s Tom Kerrins had his own milestone match.
The former club captain chalked up game 200 for the Grasshoppers in the 41-point triumph over Dookie United.
Kerrins was his reliable self down back and across the ground in the 11.12 (78) to 5.7 (37) win and was judged best-afield.
The win sets up a hotly-anticipated top-of-the-table bout between the Hoppers and Nagambie this weekend.
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