By MICHAEL HABER
THE Round 17 clash between East Sunbury and Keilor Park was a crucial one for both sides.
Keilor Park needed to win in order to almost definitely secure a spot in the top four whereas East Sunbury needed to win to keep their finals dream alive.
The first quarter immediately set the tone for the rest of the game with both sides going in hard right from the beginning.
Lucas Shaw kicked the first goal of the match with a magnificent snap from the boundary.
The first half of the quarter saw the ball go up and down the field more frequently with Keilor Park capitalising on their possession, kicking three goals in a row but East Keilor brought the game back by locking the ball in their forward half later on in the quarter.
The Thunder managed to take a three-point lead into the first break.
Both sides were again very physical in the second quarter.
The physicality of the match hampered on ball-usage however, with many clangers affecting the contest.
Lucas Shaw managed to capitalise on one of these clangers when the Devils’ defenders fumbled the ball in his forward line.
Kirk Wintels kept his side in it during the quarter. His marking and use of his body kept the ball up forward for his side and they were able to capitalise on this.
Possibly goal of the game if not the year however would have to go to Matthew Kuric who ran from the centre square into an open goal whilst being chased.
East Sunbury used the ball just a bit better than the Devils in the second quarter though, giving them a 16-point lead at half time.
East Sunbury took the game on in the third quarter and challenged Keilor Park.
All three of the Thunder’s goals came from great passages of play, where his team mates used fantastic teamwork to get the ball through for goal.
These plays were thanks to the East Sunbury midfielders and their ability to win every contest in the centre.
The Devils struggled when they managed to get the ball up forward though, only managing 1.4 for the quarter. They went into the final quarter trailing by 26 points.
Jordan Garita set his team into motion in the last term with a huge goal.
Keilor Park really lifted the intensity but that intensity was met with East Sunbury’s grit and determination.
Keilor Park’s two goals looked promising but East Sunbury managed to shut them down and best-on-ground Tom Cree’s, final goal a few minutes before the siren sealed the victory for his side.
East Sunbury’s win kept the race for fourth spot open for the final round, though it seems 2016 won’t mark the club’s first senior finals appearance.
EAST SUNBURY | 11.8-74
Goal Kickers: L. Shaw 3, J. King 2, M. Kuric 2, R. Gardener 2, T. Cree, B. Bacon-Dudderidge
Best Players: T. Cree, D. Johnson, M. Kuric, L. Shaw, C. Schofield-Lane, D. Mavromatis
KEILOR PARK | 8.10-58
Goal Kickers: N. Trotter 3, K. Wintels 2, J. Wilson 2, J. Garita
Best Players: S. Frederickson, S. Barry, J. Ravanello, B. Thomas, P. Corredig
