Montmorency will meet St Mary’s in the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 1 Grand Final this Sunday after stunning Eltham in an extra-time preliminary final thriller.
The Magpies led at every change and flipped the script on the Panthers, who had accounted for Montmorency in both of their regular season meetings.
It was a tussle between the two sides all day, as neither side could fully capitalise on their opportunities in front of goal. Montmorency led by 11 points at the first break after Madeline Gallagher kicked two opening term goals.
Eltham finally registered its first major of the day 14 minutes into the second quarter through the boot of Grace Robinson, but the Magpies held sway at the half still leading by their quarter time margin.
Magpie Ellie Thomas booted the first goal of the third term to send her side out to a 17-point lead and things were starting to get desperate for Eltham. Two goals from Panther Emily Wunderlich kept her side in it and closed the margin to just five points at the final change, setting up a grandstand finish.
The Panthers then hit the front after Dayna Kelly converted her set shot effort to give her side some belief. When co-captain Michaela Molenberg produced the goal of the day, gathering the loose ball on centre wing before taking three bounces and burning off three Magpie chasers to kick another, it looked as though the Panthers would be on their way to Preston City Oval.
But Montmorency wouldn’t lie down. Kira Lemire made the most of a 50-metre penalty to answer at the other end and leave the margin at just one point. A shot on goal from Georgia Thomson a short time later was punched through on the goal line as both sides were locked at 5.9 (39) apiece. Eltham had the ball locked in their forward 50 as the siren sounded to take the contest to extra time.
After a tense passage of play, Lemire swooped onto a loose ball at the top of the goal square and put through the only goal of extra time. A behind from Molly Mcerlain pushed the margin beyond a straight kick, sparking scenes of jubilation and despair from the opposing teams as the final siren sounded.
Mary Robinson, Molly Bell, Emily Wunderlich and Jordan Kelly gave their all for Eltham and were judged their side’s best on the day. For Montmorency Mcerlain’s game was vital, as was the efforts of Emily Gallagher, Shelby Lemire and Madeline Gallagher.
It sets up a terrific match up this Sunday at Preston City Oval between last year’s grand finalists Montmorency and this year’s minor premiers St Mary’s. Will the Magpies avenge last year’s grand final defeat, or can the Burra complete a perfect season and win the premiership undefeated? We’ll find out on Sunday afternoon.
