A Bryce Hinneberg goal after the final siren has lifted Kyneton to a thrilling two-point win over Sandhurst.
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The Kyneton Showgrounds crowd erupted as 19-year-old Hinneberg’s set shot from 45m out sailed through for a goal to lift the Tigers to a 14.10 (94) to 13.14 (92) victory.
Players and supporters mobbed the 19-year-old as the Tigers celebrated their first win over Sandhurst since 2008.
“All credit to Bryce. It’s a unique situation to be in. They say that every boy dreams of kicking a goal after the siren, but when the situation arises I don’t know how many people really want that pressure on them,’’ Kyneton coach Luke Beattie said.
“There was about 10 Sandhurst players on the mark and he had to kick from just inside 50. There was nothing easy about the effort, but the outcome was fantastic.”
Earlier, a six-goal first-half haul from Mitch Scholard gave Kyneton a 31-point lead at the main break.
The Tigers kicked three goals to one against the breeze in the first term and eight goals to five with the breeze in the second quarter to put the Dragons on the back foot.
On the back of skipper Blair Holmes, Nick Stagg and Joel Wharton, the Dragons lifted in the second half.
By three quarter-time the margin was back to 11 points and when Joel Wharton’s fourth goal put the Dragons in front deep into the final quarter, it looked as though the Tigers were going to let another half-time lead slip.
Kyneton gave it one last shot. A tough set shot from Ben Weightman sailed wide for a behind before the Tigers locked the ball in from the kick-out.
Hinneberg was paid a free kick for a high tackle and seconds later the siren sounded.
With the weight of his footy club on his shoulders, Hinneberg, who hadn’t kicked a goal this season, calmly slotted the long-range shot and the Tiger party begun.
“I thought that our boys played the better footy for the majority of the day and really deserved the win,’’ Beattie said.
“Take nothing away from Sandhurst, they’re a quality unit, but on the day I thought we were the better team. It would have been disappointing to see us lose the game.”
The scenes at the Kyneton Showgrounds after the final siren were reminiscent of the mid-1990s when the Tigers were a power of the BFNL.
Beattie said the Tigers need to compete with, and beat, the top teams regularly to build on the momentum the club has created.
“Since coming out of recess we’ve been continuing to build the club and make it a place for all our community to feel proud about,’’ Beattie said.
“(Re-creating the club’s fortunes of the 1990s) will be born out of not just one week, but multiple weeks of effort.”