Abers Outlast Mores In Tense Prelim
TWO Jayden Foster goals deep into time-on of the final term saw Aberfeldie edge past Strathmore in Sunday’s Preliminary Final at Windy Hill.
In a see-sawing contest, Strathmore had the better of the play throughout the first half but could not make it count on the scoreboard, going into the half time break up by two points.
Kicking to the scoring end in the third quarter, Aberfeldie was able to wrest back control of the game with five goals to one to establish a handy 20-point buffer by three-quarter time, but Mores still had petrol in the tank.
Quick goals to Andrew Vavra and Sam O’Loughlin saw Strathmore claw its way back in the final quarter and as the game ticked into time-on, young forward Athan Tsialtas took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Tsialtas booted three goals within four minutes to put Strathmore nine points ahead by the 23-minute mark of the last, but in a tense ending to the game, Aberfeldie found a way to get the job done.
Foster kicked two late goals to put Aberfeldie back in front, sending his side to its seventh consecutive Grand Final.
Aberfeldie will play Keilor this Saturday at Windy Hill in a re-match of the 2018 decider.
Foster ended his day with four goals while Ryan Allan and Luke Blackwell were named among Aberfeldie’s best players.
For Strathmore, who lost its second consecutive prelim by less than a goal, Tsialtas booted five with O’Loughlin named best.
ABERFELDIE | 2.0-12 | 4.5-29 | 9.6-60 | 11.9-75
Goal Kickers: J. Foster 4, J. Pound 2, J. Velissaris 2, Z. Hislop, S. Cattapan, N. Cattapan
Best Players: R. Allan, L. Blackwell, J. Rush, J. Foster, V. Carboni, L. Davis
STRATHMORE | 3.4-22 | 4.7-31 | 5.10-40 | 10.12-72
Goal Kickers: A. Tsialtas 5, A. Vavra 2, A. Gallucci, S. O'Loughlin, K. Weightman
Best Players: S. O'Loughlin, D. Mighell, A. Iacobucci, A. Tsialtas, A. Vavra, B. Reddick
GRAND FINAL
KEILOR v ABERFELDIE
🎥 Broadcast Game 📻
Saturday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
Eagles Soar Over Cougars In Decider
CRAIGIEBURN claimed its second Division 1 premiership in four seasons with an impressive 37-point win over East Keilor on Saturday.
The Eagles led the game from start to finish in perfect Windy Hill conditions, kicking eight goals to three through the middle two quarters to set up the win.
Retiring midfielder Josh Young got the ball rolling with the first goal of the game at the two-minute mark, before Con Grampsas was able to respond seven minutes later.
The next three goals all went the Eagles’ way and from there, the game was played on their terms.
Craigieburn used its trademark speed to stretch East Keilor across the wide expanses of Windy Hill, with Tye Browning, Corey Viani and Josh Vilinskis all proving a handful for the sluggish and inaccurate Cougars.
By half time the margin was 19 points and while Peter Tsavdaridis goaled for East Keilor early in the third to peg it back to 13, it didn’t take Craigieburn too long to re-gain the ascendancy.
Read our full match report here.
CRAIGIEBURN | 2.4-16 | 6.9-45 | 10.14-74 | 13.17-95
Goal Kickers: J. Bellino 4, J. Vilinskis 2, S. Boyall 2, B. Gordon, J. Davies, J. Young, B. Morrison, S. Smith
Best Players: J. Vilinskis, B. Morrison, C. Viani, B. Fynch, T. Browning, J. Bellino
David McWilliam Medal: Billy Morrison
EAST KEILOR | 1.4-10 | 3.8-26 | 4.13-37 | 7.16-58
Goal Kickers: L. McCormack 2, P. Tsavdaridis, D. Hill, B. Nicholl, N. Kennedy, C. Grampsas
Best Players: Not provided
