MORES SNATCH DOUBLE CHANCE, PANTHERS STORM HOME AGAINST BLUES
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Well it was an absolutely frantic finish in the last round of the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division, with the top four sides battling it out for ladder positioning for week one of the finals.
It was Strathmore who landed the first blow at Clifton Park, taking care of the Two Blues by 23 points, handing Aberfeldie only their second loss of the season.
Strathmore were at full strength in this encounter, and the boys from Lebanon Reserve burst out of the gates. They took a 20-point lead into the quarter time break and seemed to control the ball around the contests.
Abers would hit back to keep the Mores goalless in the second term, clawing the margin back to five points at the main break. Strathmore would hold steady in a three-goal-to-two third term, extending the lead to just over two kicks with a quarter to play.
The poise from Matt Horne’s men was second to none in the final term. A four-goal-to-three last quarter from the boys in navy blue and gold saw them kick away for the 11.19.85-9.8.62 victory.
Inaccuracy could’ve well and truly changed the game from a Strathmore perspective, as they finished the contest with 13 more scoring shots.
Regardless, the big names stood up. Andrew Gallucci, Will Jury and Athan Tsialtas all bagged two goals each, whilst the Mores finished with five other single goal kickers.
For Abers, Jack Binns and playing coach Adam Marcon both booted two goals each, but with the steady defence of Strathmore, and the absence of Sam Paea, the Two Blues found it difficult to penetrate their attacking 50.
The Mores waited anxiously for word from Joe Brown Oval, where Keilor and Pascoe Vale were locked horns with more ladder ramifications. The equation for the Blues was simple, win and they’re in the top two, lose and they’re playing the Panthers again the week after.
And it was Digby Morrell’s men who stunned the Keilor faithful on their home deck, defeating the Blues by 22 points to deny them a double chance.
Scores were level at both quarter time and half time in this battle, with Pascoe Vale keeping steady. The reverse fixture saw the Panthers drop off in the last quarter for a Keilor win, but it was quite the opposite for this matchup. A five-goal-to-two final term from the boys from Raeburn Reserve cemented their status as a genuine flag contender in season 2022.
They would run away with the win, with the final score locked away at 16.8.104-12.10.82.
Matthew Watson dominated up forward with four goals, and was followed by Ozgur Uysal who had three, and Brad Inglis who had two.
For Keilor it was Christos Kosmas who led from the front, booting three goals, and was followed by James Bailey, Matt Clark and Kyle O’Connor who all added two goals each.
In bizarre fashion, week one of the finals series will look exactly the same. With Strathmore’s win and Keilor’s loss, Aberfeldie will again face the Griff in the first semi final. The winner of that game moves straight through to the grand final, with the loser gaining a double chance.
Keilor and Pascoe Vale will again do battle in a do-or-die clash in the second semi final. Again, the equation is simple: Win and your season is alive, lose and you’re out. Huge games here.
ANNIHILATIONS GALORE IN FIRST WEEK OF FINALS
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Airport West stormed straight into the Rookie Me Division One Grand Final after absolutely dismantling Tullamarine to the tune of 89 points at Windy Hill.
The Dees had trouble with this matchup in both games throughout the season, and never seemed to be able to find the method to cracking the dominant Eagles.
The first quarter though looked like Tulla had found some rhythm, as they restricted Airport West to just one goal whilst taking an eight point lead.
Well that awoke the beast, and from quarter time onwards it was an absolute destruction of all sorts. The Eagles booted eight goals to three in the second term and took a 22-point lead into the main break.
The second half saw the Eagles pile on 12 goals to the Demons’ two, including eight goals to nothing in the final stanza. It saw Airport West coast through to the big dance, 21.14.140-7.9.51.
Ned Gentile was his absolute best on the afternoon, booting six goals and was followed by Muhammad Saad who had three. Luca Muratore, Brendan Godden, Luke Sultana and Alex Penaluna all added two goals also.
It was a dirty day for Tulla, who at times have struggled to find four quarter consistency. Anthony Prestia was the shining light on a dark afternoon for the Dees, and booted three goals. It was slim pickings after that though, as Tulla only managed four other individual goal kickers.
The boys from Leo Dineen Reserve will now take on West Coburg in the preliminary final, after the Burgers made light work of Westmeadows at Highgate Reserve.
The Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day moved to a Sunday afternoon up the highway in Craigieburn where Dale May and Mo Kaakour’s men did battle to stay alive in Rookie Me Division One.
It was West Coburg who dominated the contest from start to finish, with Dominic Dean Spagnolo absolutely running riot in the ruck against Ferras Mehri. The big bodies of the Burgers worked into the game early and didn’t look back.
The boys from the Shoretress took a 20-point lead into the main break, before absolutely exploding in the third quarter to pile on seven goals to one, extending the margin to a game high 62 points (at the time).
A four-goal-to-three final term saw West Coburg sink Westmeadows, 18.14.122-8.9.57, inevitably ending the Tigers 2022 campaign.
Lynden Dunn was in scintillating form, booting three goals and adding three goal assists to his tally. Noah “The Rifle” Weihrauch and Jesse Martini also added three goals up forward. Jordan Gloury and Perry Patrikios added two goals each.
It was a tough day for Westy, who missed their main goal scorer Omar Saad up forward. Mitch Church was the only multiple goal scorer for the Tigers with two goals and was followed by six single goal kickers.
The bigger bodies of West Coburg were able to dominate around the football, with Daniel Archer taking some impressive contested marks midway through the game.
The Burgers will go into next week’s prelim final with absolute confidence that they can knock off the Demons. Dale May finally has a full strength squad, and will take comfort out of knowing they just fell short at Leo Dineen Reserve by five points without important players in the lineup.
This one will be massive.
DEVILS ADVANCE TO BIG DANCE, DISTRICTS END BEARS’ SEASON
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Keilor Park survived a scare from Oak Park, but inevitably held on to move on to the grand final, defeating the Roos by 26 points at Section Road.
It was the boys from J.P Fawkner Reserve who led for three quarters of the game, taking an important three goal lead into the first change. The Devils were able to cut the lead to a goal at half time, and things would just tighten up.
It would be the Roos leading at the final change by seven points, but all reports suggested that the Devils would come home with the wet sail.
And indeed they did. Paul Guicas’s men would pile on five goals whilst keeping Oak Park scoreless in the final term, to complete the 12.10.82-8.8.56 victory.
Damien Cavka dominated the second half and ended with a nice haul of four goals. Jordan Filakis and Daniel Mifsud added two goals each.
For Oak Park Mitch Leathers booted three goals, but was the only multiple goal kicker for the afternoon for the Roos. They would manage five single goal kickers as well, but a scoreless final term didn’t help their case.
They will now face an in-form Coburg Districts outfit in the preliminary final.
The boys from Cole Reserve were challenged by Burnside Heights in their do-or-die semi final clash at a boggy Sewell Reserve, but were able to hold on for a 15-point win to secure their place in the prelim final.
The Districts led at every break and controlled the contested ball early. Tom Gleeson’s men took a 15-point lead into quarter time, but the Bears were still yet to be denied as they charged back to trail by just two points at the main break.
The Districts got down to business in the premiership quarter, keeping the Bears scoreless whilst extending the lead back out to 25 points.
A late surge from Aidan Stott’s men brought the margin back to two goals and change, but Coburg Districts saw out the game 12.11.83-10.8.68 victors.
Jordan Hughes came up huge for the Bears, booting six goals and was followed by Jacob Elia who had two. For the Districts, it was a much more well rounded and consistent performance on the scoresheet, with Justin Blackley, playing coach Tom Gleeson, Nikolas Dimeski, Spencer Aitken and John Jr Hardaway all booting two goals each.
The Districts, just like West Coburg in Division One, will also go into their prelim final matchup against Oak Park with full confidence, having knocked off the Roos on their home deck in brilliant fashion.
There’s no second chances in this one. Another huge clash to come.
