By TOBIE CHAPMAN
MARIBYRNONG Park’s finals hopes are still alive after a stunning 14-point upset over Keilor at Keilor Reserve.
A four goal to nil opening term set the Lions up strongly as they led from start to finish to win 13.10-88 to 10.14-74.
The Lions jumped out of the blocks quickly, kicking the opening goal only two minutes into the game through Jake Byrush.
The game quickly began to settle, but Keilor were hurried and sloppy throughout the entire first term. For 15 minutes the Lions were unable to capitalise, but late in the term they broke free.
Goals from both the Prowse boys and Jess Morano saw Marby head into quarter time with a 24-point advantage as the Blues were held to only three behinds.
It was only the third time this season that Keilor had been held goalless for an entire quarter.
Lee Johnston was starring against Dean Galea, negating the dangerous forward’s influence and providing strong intercept marking.
Big man Ben Jones, typically used more as a forward/ruck was featuring down back against a tall Blues’ forward line.
Spending time on the likes of David Gourdis and Ryan Bathie he was excelling, playing one of his best games for the year.
Although Keilor’s height at times threatened to overwhelm the Lions’ defence, too often it caused their forward line to look slow and sluggish.
This was a clear focus for Mick McGuane at the break, as the second term saw Luke McGuane pushing further up the ground and at times even rucking, while Browne and Putt spent less time resting forward.
The extra space for the Keilor talls soon paid off, as Gourdis and Bathie kicked the first two goals of the second term.
Just as they had taken control though, the Lions settled and found their attacking run and carry once more.
Trent Lee kicked a stunning dribble kick, and Keilor heads began to drop.
John McKenzie extended the lead to 33 points after Andrew Browne was judged to have taken him out of a marking contest, and McKenzie’s task was made even easier thanks to a 50-metre penalty.
With his side on the ropes, Dean Galea stood up and took charge, kicking two late goals to reduce the margin to 21 points.
Following the siren Galea was again the centre of attention, involved in a scuffle with Jess Morano and Nick Prowse.
The two sides continued to trade words all the way into the change rooms, Keilor’s frustration evident.
Keilor looked a different side after the half time break, looking more like the polished unit that has taken them to second spot.
Curtis Taylor was impressing in his first game for Keilor, handling the jump from Under 16s football with ease.
Despite inaccuracy in front of goal, he managed to find plenty of the ball and his desperation and intensity was a highlight for the Blues.
Ryan Bathie further reduced the margin, and Dean Galea was beginning to trouble Lee Johnston with his speed and strength.
With 10 minutes gone in the third term, his third goal reduced the margin to two goals.
The pressure quickly built on Marby, and they now looked lost and error-prone. Too often they chose to kick to a contest from half back, allowing the Blues height to win contests or bring the ball to ground and create repeat attacks.
Just as it looked as though they had reached breaking point, Keilor missed a shot at goal and the Lions rebounded from the kick in.
Up the other end of the ground, Nick Prowse found space near the top of the square and marked.
Calmly he went back and kicked the goal, settling his side’s nerves.
Only minutes later they struck again. Jess Morano, dangerous all day, seized a half chance and goaled to take the margin back out to 23 points at the final break.
The signs were again ominous for Marby early in the fourth quarter, Andrew Browne goaling after a 50-metre penalty only a minute and a half in.
Keilor’s midfield began to seize dominance in the midfield for the first time all day with Luke Cartelli leading the charge, but the Lions were resolute in defence.
The Johnston and Jones partnership down back held strong, but with Nick Prowse struggling with a left shoulder complaint, Jones was left to shoulder much of the ruck work.
Keilor continued to push forward, and finally it paid off. Sixteen minutes into the term they found a moment of brilliance from Josh Linton.
On the run he managed to kick a long goal across his body, the margin down to only 11 points. For the first time since the midway point of the first quarter, the margin was under two goals.
Keilor launched an attack off half back, and began to surge forward. A handball went to a fast moving teammate, when out of nowhere came John McKenzie.
Smothering the pass in mid-air, he picked the ball up and launched it forward. Charles Van der Byl found the loose ball, and made no mistake with his shot.
Keilor continued to throw everything they had at the Lions, but they continued to hold on.
Soaking time off the clock the Lions slowly and steadily moved the ball across the ground.
Trent Lee took all of his time on the half forward flank, before spearing a last-second pass to the leader Cameron Lee.
Bizarrely, he opted to play on immediately and almost instantly, he hesitated and slipped. Quickly, he regained his footing and kicked truly from 40 metres out to seal the game.
An unlikely finals charge kept alive by a famous victory. The Lions have proved this year that they have the heart and determination to challenge the best.
It’ll take a miracle, but you just can’t rule this Marby side out.
KEILOR | 10.14-74
Goal Kickers: D. Galea 3, R. Bathie 2, A. Browne 2, J. Linton, J. Papalia, D. Gourdis
Best Players: L. Cartelli, J. Papalia, K. Barbuto, C. Taylor, R. Hards, M. Ellis
MARIBYRNONG PARK | 13.10-88
Goal Kickers: N. Prowse 3, J. Morano 2, T. Lee 2, J. McKenzie 2, J. Byrush, C. Lee, C. Van Der Byl, C. Prowse
Best Players: L. Johnston, C. Vearing, N. Prowse, B. Jones, S. Cave, J. McKenzie
