By TOBIE CHAPMAN
Keilor have kicked off the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division season with a gutsy 22-point win over Strathmore on Good Friday.
Down to 19 men for the entirety of the second half, Keilor had to battle fatigue and a strong breeze to pull out an unlikely win.
Spurred on by ruckman Andrew Browne and new recruit, ex-Brisbane forward Luke McGuane, the Blues were able to pile on five goals to two in the last quarter.
Coach Mick McGuane hailed his side’s resilience and determination, reserving no praise for their final quarter efforts.
The Blues had turned the momentum in the third quarter with a three-goal run, taking advantage of a Strathmore side looking to conserve energy kicking against the wind.
When Luke Cartelli goaled at the 21-minute mark, Keilor had jumped out to a 15-point lead and held the momentum.
Alex Grima, who had already kicked two goals for the quarter, took it upon himself to turn the Mores’ fortunes around.
Against the run of play he picked up the loose ball and snapped across the body, closing the margin.
With less than 30 seconds left, Keilor’s defence lapsed as a long ball entered the 50, the wind carrying the ball into the raised arms of Grima, his man trailing him.
Lining up after the siren, he made no mistake, nailing a difficult shot on goal to reduce the margin to only three points heading into the final term.
Mick McGuane was furious on the sideline, and delivered an impassioned plea in the huddle. His charges responded, Dean Galea kicking the opening goal of the term.
The sight of Kane Barbuto limping off in pain early in the term was an ugly one, temporarily depriving the Blues of any rotations.
Hamish McIntosh kicked a goal from outside fifty, before Guy O’Keefe goaled after a neat pass from Josh Halliwell to give Strathmore the lead and it looked like the undermanned Blues were in trouble.
Captain Dylan Joyce responded instantly after Browne won the tap, the resulting clearance ending up in the hands of the captain who made no mistake.
McGuane began to assert himself once more, winning the ball and delivering the pass onto the chest of Nicholas Guarino who slotted a tough chance from the pocket to extend Keilor’s lead.
By the time Barbuto goaled in the 18th minute, it was all but over as Strathmore looked shell-shocked, a gutsy and determined Keilor side having run riot for 10 minutes.
Keilor battled cramp and knocks during the final moments of the match, out on their feet as the siren sounded.
KEILOR 15.16 (106)
Goal Kickers: L. McGuane 4, D. Gourdis 2, D. Galea 2, N. Guarino, D. Isbister, J. Kennedy, D. Joyce, K. Barbuto, L. Cartelli, R. Bathie
Best Players: K. Barbuto, L. Cartelli, L. McGuane, D. Isbister, A. Browne, E. Ogden
STRATHMORE 12.12 (84)
Goal Kickers: A. Grima 5, T. Gleeson 2, A. Arrowsmith, N. Lyons, G. O''Keefe, H. McIntosh, M. Stapleton
Best Players: H. McIntosh, S. Leech, J. Helliwell, T. Gleeson, A. Grima
