BLUES HOLD OFF COURAGEOUS COUGARS
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Well it was far from convincing, but Keilor are closer to securing a top two spot after holding off a gallant East Keilor outfit by 14 points at Overland Reserve on the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day.
In what has been now dubbed the “Keilor derby”, the Cougars brought the heat to the contest early. Tim Bongetti’s men were still in with a sniff for a top four spot had they won the game, and came out with full intensity in order to clinch it.
The contest was tight from the outset, with the Blues holding an eight-point lead at the quarter time break. The Cougars then dominated the second term, and snatched a one goal lead at the half whilst keeping the visitors goalless… a rare sight to see from a Keilor side that has prided itself on consistency.
Missed opportunities and wasteful inside 50s plagued the Cougars’ attempts at kicking away from the Blues, with the home side managing to kick 0.5 in the third term. Both teams traded blows, but it was Keilor who would take a two-point lead into the final change.
A blockbuster final 30 minutes ensued, with playing coach Bongetti squaring the game up midway through the last quarter for the home side to send the Cougars faithful into hysterics.
But as we have seen many times before, the class and poise from Keilor’s experienced players proved to be the difference, with Nick O’Kearney dominating around the contest. He inevitably put the icing on the cake with a brilliant goal on the run from 40 metres out, which ended the Cougar’s hopes of playing finals in season 2022.
Keilor would then run out the game, with the final score locked at 8.10.58-5.14.44.
Bongetti would dominate up forward and end the game with four goals for the Cougars, with Charles Van Der Byl adding another major on the board. That’s where the bucked stopped though, with inaccuracy costing the home side.
O’Kearney would finish with two goals for Keilor, and was followed by six single goal kickers.
The story of the game would be the stability in the backline for both sides. Lachie Rayner and Brandon Coletta were instrumental on the last line of defence for East Keilor, whilst Brad Xavier picked up the NXP Player of the Game honour for his dominant second half performance for the Blues.
All eyes were also on the weather, with multiple games being called off across the senior competitions for hail, torrential rain and storms.
Keilor will be looking to solidify second spot next week when they host Pascoe Vale in a huge game with massive finals ramifications. East Keilor will see out the season on the road at Sewell Reserve when they take on Glenroy.
Elsewhere, Aberfeldie and Strathmore will lock horns at Clifton Park in another blockbuster pre-finals matchup.
BURGERS SEAL FINALS IN A SHORETRESS THRILLER
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The final round in Rookie Me Division One had it all.
West Coburg will be playing finals football for the first time since 2014 after holding off Rupertswood in a contest that was no short of absolute drama at Shore Reserve.
The Sharks from Salesian College needed to win the game by 33 points or more to snatch a finals spot away from the Burgers, and looked on track to do so.
That’s when the pandemonium occurred. Wild weather and storms suspended the game for just over 20 minutes with Rupo leading the game by 34 points at the time of the halt in play. That result in question would’ve seen them qualify for finals had the game been abandoned… by just .16 of a percent.
The contest was deemed ok to continue, and Dale May’s men slotted a goal in the third term to peg the margin back to 27 points at the final change.
From there it was all West Coburg who dominated the final term. They would boot four goals to none to snatch the win by three points, 8.19.67-9.10.64.
Lynden Dunn returned from injury and slotted back into the forward line effortlessly, booting three goals. He was also followed by Daniel Johncock who added a couple of majors of his own.
For the Sharks, it was Fraser Phelan-Smith who led from the front, also booting three goals and was again followed by Zak Saad who kicked two goals.
It was an extremely valiant effort from the visitors who absolutely dominated the second and third quarters, however missed chances in the first term allowed the Burgers to stay closer than anticipated. The final stanza was slightly different though, with the Burgers wasting plenty of chances as they kicked 4.9 for the quarter.
The win for West Coburg sees them jump up to third on the Rookie Me Division One ladder, with Tullamarine taking good care of Westmeadows at Willowbrook Reserve. They will face said Tigers next week in the elimination final (3rd vs 4th) at Highgate Reserve, with the game commencing at 2:15pm.
LIONS END SEASON ON A HIGH
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Well it’s been no mystery that Taylors Lakes have had a tough campaign in season 2022, with a number of close losses summing up their season. But the boys from Lionheart Reserve ended the year on a positive, dismantling Burnside Heights by eight goals on their home deck.
It was a matchup which saw both sides split their season head-to-head results, with each team picking up a win as well as a draw back in Round 6.
There was no issue in this encounter for the Lions, who had nothing to lose coming into the contest. They opened up their account with five goals to nothing in the first term before storming out to a 44 point lead at the main break.
A four-goal-to-one third term saw the Lions extend their lead to beyond 50 points, before the Bears consolidated some respectability out of the game, booting seven goals to four in the final quarter.
Taylors Lakes ran out 17.13.115-10.7.67 winners for the afternoon.
Josh Vassolo dominated up forward for the home side, booting seven goals and was followed by Nick McIntosh who added three. For the Bears, Jordan Hughes impressed up forward as he collected four goals for the game, with Declan Highgate and Adam Sullivan adding a couple of goals each.
The Bears will now look to week one of finals in seven days' time, when they face Coburg Districts in a 3rd vs 4th elimination final at Sewell Reserve at 2:15pm.
For Taylor Lakes, the off season gives them a chance to regroup, rebuild and challenge for a top four berth next season.
MORES SURVIVE SCARE, BOOK A SPOT IN THE GRAND FINAL
Strathmore is heading to Windy Hill to contest the big dance against Greenvale after holding on against a formidable Essendon Doutta Stars side by 10 points at Highgate Reserve.
It was a tight affair from the outset, and both sides looked to establish themselves on the dewey deck up north in Craigieburn. Scores were level at quarter time, but the Mores were able to hold on to small leads at both half time and three quarter time.
Wild weather played havoc around the league, and this game was no different, with hail, torrential rain and lightning around Mickleham, Greenvale and Craigieburn suspending the game for just under half an hour.
At the time of the restart, Strathmore had been able to slightly control the game, but Douttas were far from done, and were able to peg the margin back to four points halfway through the final term. On a wet and slippery surface, the girls from Lebanon Reserve were able to muster one more goal which was enough to seal the win, and see them through to the Grand Final next week. Final score was 5.7.37-4.3.27.
Chiara Guarino stood up when it mattered, booting two goals and was followed by Robyn Randell, Georgie Richardson and Pontif Janjamruen who all added singles. For Douttas, Shelby Meyers, Adalita Pizzinga, Marie Napoli and Neve Crowley all added single goals.
Strathmore set up a mouth-watering grand final matchup between themselves and Greenvale next week at the home of EDFL football. The Jets were dominant in the qualifying final at Hansen Reserve, and will be itching at the bit to win the flag. The Mores will be looking to deny them. This is a big one. First bounce is at 12pm.
EAGLES GLIDE INTO THE BIG DANCE
Airport West will meet Tullamarine next week in the Airport Toyota Women’s Division Two grand final after holding off a gallant Westmeadows 2 side by nine points at Highgate Reserve.
After last week’s heroic win, Westy were looking to stun the competition once again, and boy did they start well. They managed to only trail by one point at quarter time and also kept it compact at the main break. The Eagles only managed three behinds in the second term, with the lead at four points.
The Tigers would be kept scoreless for the rest of the game as Airport West continued to pile on the pressure. They again went without majors though in the third quarter, mustering four behinds again.
The final term was tight and heavily contested around the stoppages, and it showed on the scoreboard, with the Eagles yet again only managing one behind for the quarter. Their defence stacked up as they held on for the 2.9.21-2.0.12 win.
Georgia O’Donovan and Chey Macumber booted both goals for the Eagles, whilst it was Nikayla Jones and Kate Sellers who put Westy on the board.
The girls from the Nest in the West will have to bring the energy and intensity if they want any chance of winning the big dance against Tullamarine next week, with the Dees and Eagles locking horns at Windy Hill in the first of three women’s grand finals for the day. First bounce commences at 10am.
