Old Paradians held off a fast-finishing Mernda in a terrific Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 qualifying final at Lalor Reserve, prevailing by eight points to advance to next Saturday’s second semi-final.
A strong first term effort help set up the 14.8 (92) to 12.12 (84) win, with the Raiders kicking the last three majors if the quarter to lead by 12 points at the first break.
The Demons held the lead briefly in the opening stanza but were never able to get their noses in front after quarter time, with the lead hovering around the three-goal mark for most of the contest.
But despite always appearing to have the game in hand, Old Paradians had to withstand a spirited comeback by their opponents late in the game to prevail, with the Raiders’ ability to hunt in numbers and win the ball across their half back line at key moments ultimately helping them get over the line.
“This group has a fair bit of resolve and grit,” Old Paradians coach Ben Turner said, who had praise for his midfield group consisting of Joel Tolli, Kyle O’Sullivan and Lachlan Murdoch.
Captain Marcus Nolan was a livewire early and had two goals on the board in the opening quarter before moving into the midfield during the final term to add some much needed experience and ensure the Demons didn’t win too many important clearances.
Mitch Merkel was the most productive forward on the ground with a bag of four goals, while another forward in Blair Healy excelled down back, taking multiple intercept marks as well as initiating smooth transitions from the defensive half.
Raider Sam Gilmore and Demon Billy Morrison had a good duel in the ruck, although both players often rested forward. Gilmore gave his midfielders silver service from the ruck duels he was involved in and also kicked a goal, while Morrison worked his way into the game and finished strongly in the final term.
Lewis Franz has shouldered a lot of the ruckwork in Gilmore’s absence throughout the last couple of months, but played predominantly as a forward in the qualifying final, managing three majors, including two crucial goals from strong marks in the last quarter.
Up the other end, William Gilmore held the dangerous Bryce Kimuliatis to two goals, with one of those coming from a downfield free kick.
Old Paradians worked hard in the third quarter to establish a match-winning lead, and back-to-back goals at the eight and 13-minute marks gave them a handy 23-point buffer.
The combatants slogged it out for the remainder of the term, but only registered behinds, including a snap under pressure from lively Mernda midfielder Joel Harris, which narrowly missed just before the three quarter time siren, sending his team to the break 22 points adrift as a result.
Mernda coach Robert Fletcher addressed his players at the huddle, urging them to take the game on and to get back to the way the team usually plays.
His players responded and moved the ball quicker down the ground in the final quarter; often with good effect. It made for a pulsating and highly entertaining last 30 minutes to the competitions opening match of the 2024 finals series.
Each time the Demons were able to goal however, the Raiders were able to get the reply, until last year’s runners up recorded back-to-back majors to reduce the deficit to just seven points with five minutes to go.
Old Paradians would do enough thereafter to stop their opponents from scoring, with some tempo football, as they withstood a quality Mernda outfit to win their first ever final in the NFNL.
Mernda coach Robert Fletcher gave a big tick to Jayden Bell across half back and through the middle, with his ball use and contest work standing out on the field.
Fletcher also liked the work of Riley Black, who along with Matthew Bawden, slotted two majors in the final term, the latter forward finishing the game with three goals.
Brent Marshall provided the Demons’ best highlight of the game during a stoppage in the second term, when he was the only one to read a Sam Gilmore hitout which was destined for the boundary line. Marshall swooped onto the ball and from a tight angle, slotted a terrific goal, which broke a three-goal run by the Raiders at the time.
