Reservoir led at every change and was the better team for most of the preliminary final and at three-quarter time it looked as if it would cause an upset to progress to the premiership decider.
However when the game was on the line Panton Hill finally got its act together – producing a five-goal to three final term to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Disposal efficiency was the story of the day. While both teams were wasteful at times, the Redbacks were worse for three quarters. When they turned their disposal around in the final quarter they began to hit forward targets and kept the ball out of the Mustangs’ hands.
The main beneficiary of this was competition leading goal kicker Jonathon Byron. He was one of Panton Hill’s best, kicking five goals, the first of which was his 100th goal for the season. He provided a target all day even when the delivery was poor.
Another one of the Redbacks’ best was Benn Parker. His first three centre clearances in the last quarter were game changing, not to mention the rest of his work on the ball throughout the day.
As for Reservoir, Lee Grattridge was brilliant in providing run and carry in the centre of the ground and through transition, while Ash Flavel was the pick of the forwards with five goals – following on from a seven-goal haul in the first semi final against St Mary’s. He stretched the Panton Hill defence and made the most of his opportunities.
Reservoir burst out of the blocks kicking the first two through Flavel. But despite this early dominance the Mustangs could not manage another major for the term and their total of 2.6 ensured that Panton Hill was always within reaching distance.
Shannon Darcy-Malloy kicked the first goal of the second quarter for Panton Hill, only for his side to face an immediate response from Reservoir.
Flavel and Brendan O’connor traded two quick goals in the space of three minutes before Byron kicked his 100th. A dribble though from the goal square was hardly spectacular but it kept the Redbacks in touch heading into the second half.
After half-time Reservoir came out intent on building a significant lead. After Sullivan’s early goal was cancelled by a quick reply from Byron, the Mustangs opened the game up.
They moved the ball quickly and gave Sullivan and Flavel one-on-one opportunities which they duly converted. However, as it had all day, Panton Hill manufactured a goal against the run of play to stay in touch.
10 points down and with everything on the line, Panton Hill needed the first goal of the fourth quarter. Not only did it kick the first, but also four of the next five in an amazing 10 minutes. The Redbacks began to hit their targets and tore apart Reservoir in all facets of the game to take a lead of 15 points.
With the game nearing its end Reservoir made one last push. Goals to Toby O’Meara and Flavel reduced the margin to under a goal before time ran out as the Mustangs’ fine season came to a disappointing end.
Panton Hill now heads into the Grand Final looking for its first senior premiership since 1955 and first in the NFL/DVFL. It will take on Mernda who it fell to convincingly in the second semi final a fortnight ago.
The Demons will also be looking to end a significant premiership drought on Saturday, with their last senior premiership coming back in 1991 when they took out the Division 2 competition.
Final score: Panton Hill 11.11 (77) def Reservoir 10.13 (73)
