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Blues Back To Windy Hill

By Eric Forman


Keilor is heading back to Windy Hill for the grand final after a 39-point preliminary final win against Strathmore on Sunday at Coburg City Oval.

The Mores would've been filled with confidence after coming so close to knocking the Blues off in their last meeting and with the Blues coming off a loss.

They managed to stay right in the contest to half time before a third-quarter blitz set up the Keilor win.

Keilor got on the board with four of the first five goals of the game, before a Will Jury goal late int he first time brought the margin back to 14 points.

Strathmore did all the attacking in the second term kicking the first two goals to eventually draw level 26 minutes into the second term.

With seconds to go until half time, Chris Kosmas marked and goaled from the top of the goal square to give Keilor a slight edge.

Just one goal separated the sides at the main change with the Mores finding plenty of the ball and controlling stoppage, boasting 14 more clearances.

The Blues on the other hand, were able to cause midfield turnovers and own the inside 50 count which proved ominous for Strathmore.

With Athan Tsialtas out of the game through an injury to the mid-section in the first quarter, his direct opponent in Jovan Petric swung forward in the third and proved to be a gamechanger.

Returning to the side from VFL duties, Petric's three goals all came in the third term with the Blues kicking five goals to one to open up a 35-point margin heading into the last.

Reuben William was dominant in the defensive half for the Blues and managed to sneak forward and kick the first goal of the last quarter to dent any hopes Strathmore had of coming back.

Nick O'Kearney worked into the contest and lifted his side with 35 disposals, 10 tackles, and seven clearances in a sublime performance.

James Bailey (33 disposals, 12 rebound 50s) provided a lot of drive for Keilor in a staunch backline alongside the likes of William and Brad Xavier.

Nathan Colenso returned from Williamstown VFL with Petric and also snagged three majors, as nine Blues hit the scoreboard.

For Strathmore, Cooper Keogh was excellent all game and finished with a whopping 61 hit outs, 29 disposals, and 19 clearances to go with a goal.

Trent Dumont (33 disposals, nine clearances) and Liam Cavanagh (21 disposals, 17 hit outs, six intercepts) were important as well, but it wasn't to be for the Mores whose season came to a close.

Keilor get set for another finals clash with Pascoe Vale in the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division grand final at Windy Hill.

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