Longwood Seniors set for historic first KDFL final

After a remarkable season, the Longwood Senior Football Club is gearing up for its first ever senior final in the Kyabram District Football League (KDFL). Sitting fifth on the ladder with 11 wins and five losses, the Redlegs will face a Nagambie side they comfortably defeated by 27 points just three weeks ago. For coach Baz Formosa, the achievement is the culmination of three years of hard work. “It’s really exciting for a lot of people," Formosa said. "It's been three years of hard work for our group, and to finally lock in a spot in the finals is a great feeling,” he said. “The vibes around the club are fantastic, and everyone’s just excited for the opportunity. "We’re heading into the final healthy, with the team pretty much at full strength, and it’s all about enjoying the moment and playing our roles. "The longer we keep winning, the longer we get to stay out on the field, and that’s what it’s all about now.” Formosa, who has deep family ties to the club, has enjoyed the growth he has been part of at Longwood but could not confirm his intentions for 2026. “At this stage, I’m focusing on the final," he said. "My goal is to let the players enjoy the opportunity we’ve earned, and I’ll sort out decisions about next season after the finals.” Club president Ricki Shinner said Formosa’s impact has been widely felt. “Baz has transformed not only the senior team but all the football teams," Shiner said. "The way they train, the expectations on how they play, and the way they prepare and present. "It is a whole football program, not just the senior team. But it has not just been about getting a senior team into finals, with Shiner highlighting the broader significance of Longwood’s journey. “There are so many things people on the outside don’t realise or truly understand about Longwood," he said. "What we have done and how we achieved it". Longwood have definitely done it the hard way: in 2015, after a tough year, the community had to get involved and roll up their sleeves. “2015 was about survival and giving us time to work out a sustainable plan. "No short term quick fix or sugar hit. "Build our club on good people, build relationships in Shepparton, including club partners and players, build a junior program, and invest in our community. "It was eleven years of hard work, all planned for hopefully a long, sustained future." Shiner has been involved with Longwood since 2009 and took on the president’s role in 2018. “The biggest change in our club has been the inclusion of juniors and the number of families that play with our club in both junior and senior sport,” he said. This season, the Redlegs’ success has extended across the whole club in addition to their first finals appearance in the KDFL. “We are all proud of our senior team, a dream many never would have believed; but more importantly, we are proud of our club.” He also emphasised the importance of volunteers and community support, noting that it was 'one of the most important pieces' to a small country club. "Our club is an outlet for our community members, and at the end of the day, it is about them and the Longwood community and something to be proud of.” With finals football on the horizon, Longwood is embracing the moment, ready to make history, and is confident that years of planning and community support have prepared them for this opportunity.

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