Lower Plenty won a soggy, see sawing encounter against Eltham in their first encounter since the thrilling 2018 Grand Final.
The ghosts of one-goal losses to Lower Plenty was visited again upon Eltham as Alden Meale goaled to put the Bears ahead by six points, 17 mins into the final quarter.
Alex Bellchambers roved and snapped an accurate shot on goal with two minutes to go for the Panthers, but the ball had been touched just after it left the boot, sending the travelling Eltham supports from ecstasy to agony in moments.
A behind after the siren for Lower Plenty restored the difference to a familiar margin, with the Bears saluting 12.12 (84) to 11.12 (78) at Montmorency Park South Oval.
The rain teemed down 30 minutes prior to the first bounce and continued throughout the first half, making for slippery conditions, and the goal kicking accuracy on display was a credit to both sides considering the conditions.
It was Lower Plenty who adjusted best to the weather, leaping out to a 4.5 (29) to 1.1 (7) lead at quarter time, which included two goals to Matthew Duckworth, while Tim Currie goaled to open Eltham’s account.
The mood on the field was as gloomy as the skies, as scuffles broke out throughout the match. Eventually, the umpire reached his limit and Mikael Avramov received a yellow card midway through the first quarter.
The battle between Avramov and Tom Keys was enthralling all evening.
Keys was at the heart of everything positive for the Bears early, especially at the stoppages where his height and bulk cleared the way for early ball use for Lower Plenty. However, his influence was waned in the second half by Avramov.
At quarter time, Eltham coach Robert Hyde urged his team to adjust to the conditions by staying on their feet longer and simplifying their decision making. He also adjusted his forward line, hoping to see more pressure and agility when the ball inevitably hit the ground than he had from an originally taller lineup.
Whilst Hyde had asked his team to aim to draw two goals closer by half time, he would have been thrilled that his men all but erased the deficit by half time, going into the long break just one-point behind.
The ill-discipline continued in the second quarter, but this time Lower Plenty were on the wrong side of the free kick count and Eltham capitalised early when a 50m penalty gave Darcy Vallance a chance from long distance, which he did not waste.
Hyde’s message to simplify the Panthers’ decision making going forward was paying off and was resembled best by a hopeful Brent Macaffer high ball inside 50, which resulted in Matthew Williamson splitting the pack to mark and then kicking truly to convert.
The game was clearly on at this point, as was a high stakes battle between Brent Macaffer and the Darcy Barden in the centre.
Barden was brilliant throughout the evening, making a difference to drive Lower Plenty forward whilst also blunting Macaffer defensively. The Panthers ace did grow into the game later, and did have his moments, but less so when Barden was within reach.
Whilst the second quarter belonged to Eltham, with further goals to Daniel Jarvis and Michael Still, Duckworth did show his versatility, laying a crunching tackle outside his attacking 50, and then, after his teammates took advantage of the loose ball, finished what he started by goaling from close range.
Lower Plenty leapt out of the half time break with two early goals, first to Billy Barden in the first minute and then to Tom Keys.
From there, it was all Eltham as goals to Marc O’Regan, a beautiful rove, arcing run and goal from Bronson Glasgow, and two goals from Michael Still gave the Panthers a foothold to victory at three quarter time, leading 9.8 (62) to 7.8 (50).
During the huddle at the final break, Darcy Barden was as present, urging his Lower Plenty teammates on, as he was during the game, asking for one last effort.
Senior coach Ben Turner was also optimistic on turning the tide. He asked his team to take a chance, saying that he would not hold a multiple goal defeat against them if they threw caution to the wind for a chance to win.
Led by Joshua Turner, who was amongst the Bears’ best, Lower Plenty immediately responded to their coach’s instruction. Shifting his weight deceptively, Turner was able to throw off his pursuer enough to handball to Thomas Blake, who finished a tidy snap to rouse the home crowd.
Blake’s goal was answered swiftly by Daniel Jarvis for Eltham, and that was quickly countered by Corey Sleep on behalf of the Bears. That was only for Jarvis to keep his feet after a three-on-one marking contest, not in his favour, to strike again a few minutes later.
At 10 minutes into the final quarter, the deficit not being materially reduced, a slippery ball, and with Eltham seemingly having all the answers, you could forgive the Lower Plenty faithful for planning how to move on with their Saturday evening.
However, a mark and goal from Blake after 11 minutes, showed that the Bears were not going away.
Darcy Barden was never far from the critical moments all game but, after 15 minutes in the final quarter, and belying the limp he had carried from his defensive 50 immediately prior, he willed himself forward, emerging with the ball to goal from distance to tie the game.
Only two minutes later, with Lower Plenty now dominating clearances in the centre and around the ground, Alden Meade was adjudged to be taken high in front of goal and put Lower Plenty ahead by a goal.
With 10 minutes still to play, and with the quarter averaging a goal every two or so minutes, it seemed inconceivable that would be the final major for the match, however it would prove so.
That is not to say that drama did not ensue as both teams had their share of the ball and players stood tall in difficult conditions.
Eltham thought they had brought themselves even after Bellchambers snapped well, but heads were in hands an instant later as it was clear that the ball had been touched off the boot, and a behind had been recorded.
Elation probably rarely seen since their last meeting with Eltham in the 2018 Grand Final came from the Lower Plenty players and fans as the siren sounded just after a Bears mark close to goal.
From the post-siren kick, they registered a behind to win by six points. Again.
Final score: Lower Plenty 12.12 (84) def Eltham 11.12 (78)
LOWER PLENTY
Goal Kickers: M. Duckworth 3, T. Blake 2, T. Keys 2, D. Barden, W. Barden, C. Sleep, A. Meale, B. Timewell
Best Players: J. Turner, T. Keys, D. Barden, M. Clamp, T. Blake, L. Stagoll
ELTHAM
Goal Kickers: D. Jarvis 3, M. Still 3, B. Glasgow, M. O”Regan, M. Williamson, D. Vallance, T. Currie
Best Players: D. Vallance, B. Glasgow, B. Taglieri, B. Macaffer, D. Horsfield, D. Jarvis
