Fitzroy Stars advanced to their first NFL Grand Final after putting on a dominant display to dispatch of table-topping Whittlesea in the Division 2 second semi-final at Lalor Reserve.
The Eagles looked in control early, but after quarter time, it was all the Stars. With scores tied at three-quarter time, they piled on 11 goals in the final term to claim the first place in the Division 2 Grand Final with a stunning 51-point victory.
The Stars crumbed their way into the premiership decider, with most of their goals coming from their small forwards or midfielders crumbing the ball from packs in what was an absolutely clinical display.
The Stars smalls were the major factor, as they were too quick and agile for their Whittlesea opponents. In the last quarter, the Stars also started to win the ruck contests and clearances more often which led them to an emphatic win.
With a strong wind behind them, it was the Eagles who got off to a better start.
Andrew Fairchild booted the first goal and despite the Stars replying through Patrick Davis, the Eagles then piled on the final three goals of the first term to go into quarter time 24 points ahead.
The margin could have been greater with the Eagles dominating every aspect of the game, however they missed six opportunities for the term which later cost them dearly.
The Stars started extremely well in the second term, kicking the first six goals of the quarter. They led by 14 points with just five minute remaining before the main break, before the Eagles replied with two of the next three goals to cut the deficit to just nine points at half time.
Fairchild got the Eagles off to a flyer in the third term, kicking the first goal from the boundary line to reduce the margin to three points. Todd Behan followed him soon after and kicked the Eagles’ second of the quarter to give them the lead.
Whittlesea looked to have figured the Stars out, denying their smalls any open space to run into. But just as the Stars looked in a spot of bother they reversed the momentum of the game.
They dominated the next 10 minutes of the quarter but couldn’t score from the opportunities they created. Importantly though, they denied Whittlesea scoring opportunities with the breeze.
Fitzroy finally capitalised after Basil Sibosado ran into an open goal to take back the lead. Sibosado soon after crumbed the ball off the pack and slammed through another to extend the Stars’ lead to 11 points.
Whittlesea finished the term stronger to level proceedings at the last change, but it was never going to be enough with Fitzroy kicking with the wind in the last term.
The Stars did the attacking early and goals to Patrick Davis and Sibosado in under a minute got them off to a flyer.
The key difference early was the Stars winning the ball in the middle. This was because of some brilliant ruck work from Jake McCauley and Allan Norris, getting the ball to their quick midfielders.
Jye Brennan kicked the next goal when he picked up the ball from 50m and loaded up a booming left foot drop punt into the middle of the sticks to give the Stars a 20-point lead.
Fairchild instantly replied for the Eagles, but it didn’t halt Fitzroy who was running on top of the tired Eagles outfit. The Stars booted the next four goals to amass a whopping 38-point lead with only 10 minutes to go.
A late Paul Harrison goal was only in consolation as the Stars kicked three of the final four majors to march emphatically into the premiership decider.
The Eagles now play North Heidelberg in the preliminary final, with the Bulldogs coming off a comeback win over Diamond Creek by six points on Sunday.
The Stars take on the winner of that match in the Division 2 Grand Final in two weeks’ time and will go in full of confidence having lost just once since Round 3.
Final score: Whittlesea 14.12 (96) def by Fitzroy Stars 22.15 (147)
