YARRAWONGA coach Craig Ednie made a surprise comeback from a shoulder reconstruction in the Pigeons’ 40-point victory over Lavington at Lavington Panthers Oval on Saturday.
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But his successful return was off-set by champion defender Matt Wollington being forced from the ground in the final quarter after breaking the ulna bone in his right forearm. It could sideline him for eight weeks.
Wollington, who was best afield against the Panthers with a brilliant rebounding performance from a back-pocket which included two sensational running third quarter goals, had his break confirmed in an X-ray after the match.
The Ovens and Murray and Victorian Country representative was devastated with the news.
“I knew I was in trouble when I heard the snap,” Wollington said.
“I dived to the ground to push the ball forward, but a Lavington player also went to the ground and his knee collided with my arm.”
Meanwhile, Ednie’s shock appearance came after big-man Steve McKee withdrew from the selected side with a bout of influenza.
“I tossed and turned and only decided at 10pm last night that I would play,” Ednie said.
“We threw up the idea when we found out about Steve not playing and I only made the decision this morning.
“I was going to have a kick in the twos, but the match committee talked me into playing in the ones; it was them that really put me in.”
Ednie played as a permanent forward-pocket and, as expected, started slowly before he made his presence felt.
He was off-target kicking 1.4, but had a hand in a couple of other goals to delight Pigeon supporters that their best player was back in action.
Ednie, who has missed the opening 11 rounds after a shoulder reconstruction, was relieved to get through the match unscathed.
“I feel reasonably well through the shoulder, but the rest of my body is a bit sore,” Ednie said.
“I will find out in the next couple of days just how sore it is.
“I still have to see my surgeon, but hopefully from now it’s full steam ahead.”
Lavington was delighted with captain Kade Stevens’ return from a knee injury with the dynamic midfielder last playing against Wangaratta in round 4.
He showed his class in picking up 33 possessions to be the Panthers’ best player.
“I got through the four quarters with no worries,” Stevens said.
“I pulled up fine.”
Coach Tim Sanson was impressed with Stevens’ comeback.
“I thought ‘Stevo’ was great and worked really hard over the course of the game,” Sanson said.
“He got a little leg weary towards the end, but I still thought he was in our best two players.”
More O and M reports — pages 22-25
