LALOR put aside two weeks of disappointment to crush Mernda by 10 goals at Schotters Road in Round 15, maintaining its unbeaten run at the ground.
On the back of inspired performances from Jarrod King and Todd Hughes, the 18.6 (114) to 7.15 (57) victory secured finals football for the Bloods for the first time since 2011.
Mernda named Coburg VFL player Jai Robinson in its side as a late inclusion after stand-in skipper Luke Thorneycroft was forced to withdraw due to illness. His withdrawal left Krys Douglas as the Demons’ third captain in a matter of weeks, due to Andrew Smith’s ongoing fight to save his career from suspension.
Early on in the game, neither side could take their opportunities. There were six behinds between the sides, with Mernda looking more likely to score the first goal early on.
However, Lalor’s Spencer Christopher was able to score the opening goal, after getting on to a miskick 30 metres out.
With an average winning margin of three goals in the past five meetings between the sides, any kind of break early on would be huge in the context of the game, and it went the Bloods’ way. Todd Hughes added Lalor’s second, as Mernda struggled on its way to six behinds in the opening quarter.
Suddenly, with Shannon Smith roving for Lalor’s third, a break was established, and that break was further underlined as Nick Mafilovski snapped through a fourth goal 30 seconds afterwards. Lalor had a 19-point lead at quarter time and looked the better team.
Despite this, it was Mernda who came out swinging in the second term.
Marcus Saddington kicked the opening goal after getting a 50m penalty, followed by a David Hutchinson goal after a quick fire move from defence. Suddenly, the margin was back to seven points, and Mernda looked like it was on a charge.
However, that was as close as it got for the Demons.
Lalor’s Beau Delcus responded shortly after with a much needed goal in the context of the game, as well as Lalor’s season, followed by a major from Scott Dowell which cancelled out Mernda’s earlier charge.
Mernda was starting to get frustrated by its inability to counter Lalor’s speed on the muddy surface, in particular when Hughes kicked his third of the game. A silly free kick after the goal ensured Hughes would get another shot from 15 meters out, which he duly converted.
When Hughes kicked goal number four shortly after, Lalor’s lead had shot out to 39 points. Despite having an equal number of shots, Lalor punishing Mernda’s missed opportunities.
Lalor was able to score its goals from directly in front, whereas Mernda was being forced wider on to the flanks, reducing its chances of kicking goals. Further undisciplined acts saw Jarrod King kick a goal, before Joel O’Reilly finally responded to the Lalor charge.
The second quarter, however, belonged to Hughes. He kicked his fourth goal of the term, having five to half time and the Bloods were out to a 39-point lead.
Mernda needed a response and it booted three of the first four goals in the third term, which included two from Robinson and another from Andrew O’Reilly, to reduce the margin to 27 points.
Further enhancing Mernda’s charge towards a possible upset was a Ben Curtiss red card for a headbutt on Nicholas Brannelly. However, Christopher’s third, followed by another from Delcus, saw the margin balloon back to 39 points at three quarter time.
The last quarter was a procession for the Bloods. Hughes kicked goals six and seven early on, extending the margin to 51 points.
It was party time when Christopher kicked his fourth, which then became a rave when Shannon Smith kicked a goal from the bounce to make it two goals in five seconds, and a 63-point lead.
Robinson would kick a consolation goal for the Demons, however, would also get red carded with the final kick of the day for charging into Richard O’Connell.
Best on ground for Lalor was Jarrod King who dominated in the clinches and won multiple clearances. Hughes, Marc Ventura and Smith were also good performers in their best performance of the season.
For Mernda, David Hutchinson worked hard, moving from the forward line into the midfield to try and spark a comeback, with Joel and Andrew O’Reilly also amongst their best players.
Final score: Mernda 7.15 (57) def by Lalor 18.6 (114)
