OVENS and Murray coach Brendan Fevola says he is committed to getting the league back to No. 1 in the rankings, after thumping Hampden by 125 points on Saturday.
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The league scored its biggest representative win with a dominant display at Wangaratta’s Norm Minns Oval.
The result booked a rematch with Peninsula next year in the 3 versus 4 battle.
The winner of that match will play for top spot in 2016 — and former AFL star Fevola wants to be there.
“Bloody oath,” Fevola said.
“I’ve loved it and, hopefully, all the boys will put their hands up again next year.
“When I took the job I said it wasn’t about this year — it’s about next year and the year after.
“Everyone knows how good our league is. We’ve just got to prove it.
“We’ve got another crack at Peninsula next year and, hopefully, we can turn the tables.”
The league seems certain to extend the two-year league-coaching deal Fevola took up in February.
Peninsula defeated the Ovens and Murray by 45 points at Carlton’s VISY Park last year.
But it dropped to third in the rankings after copping an 85-point belting from the Geelong league on Saturday.
Goulburn Valley will take on Geelong for the No. 1 spot next year.
The GV had an easy 65-point win against Ballarat at the weekend.
Ovens and Murray boss Aaron McGlynn yesterday said the league had made a statement on Saturday.
“It was one of the most clinical displays of country footy you’re going to see,” he said.
“For a team that came together four weeks ago, it’s pretty phenomenal.
“We put a few on notice, which is what we wanted to do — now we need to go ahead and get the job done.
“I hope the momentum doesn’t die down over the summer.”
Adam Prior booted a record-equalling bag of 11 goals as the Ovens and Murray ran riot.
Joel Mackie won the Norm Minns Medal as the best player on the ground, with Lonnie Hampton and Brandon Symes also stand-outs.