THOMASTOWN powered into the Grand Final with a huge win over Reservoir, while South Morang overcame a determined Watsonia in Division 3 finals action at Shelley Reserve.
Thomastown led virtually throughout against Reservoir on Saturday and finished full of running to win by 75 points and claim the first spot in the premiership decider.
Although the Mustangs trailed by a manageable 20 points at half time, the Bears sealed the game with a six-goal to two third quarter. Adding to the disappointment for the Mustangs was the report of Ryan Docherty. His season is now over after receiving a three-match ban at the tribunal.
Thomastown skipper Anthony Fazzari withdrew from the game with a knee injury and won’t play again in 2014, with Jason Abela stepping into the captain’s role for the finals series.
The Sunday game was much closer. South Morang dominated early in the game – but scored a wasteful 1.5 to 0:2 in the first term.
Watsonia fought tooth and nail in the middle stage on the game and gradually wrested back the momentum. Andrew Kidd was moved from deep forward – where he was starved of opportunities – to excel as a high half forward marking target.
Lion Nick Johnston dominated at half forward. Saint Steve Goodwin was switched on to him in the third term and managed to win a few duels and used the ball well. Meanwhile, South Morang’s Ashley Hobbs’ influence on the game was quelled by the close checking John Perichon.
Trailing by a solitary point at the last change, the Saints pushed hard early in the final stanza – only to register two behinds from early entries.
The goal to break the deadlock involved busy Lion midfielder Daniel Heatley, Lachlan Buckley, Matthew Campbell and Matthew Trim – who nailed the set shot. All four players involved in this passage of play were among South Morang’s best.
Fittingly, best on ground Nick Johnston marked 15 metres out directly in front to seal the game at the 23-minute mark. The resultant easy goal opened the floodgates – with the Lions slamming on three more in quick time to run out 30-point winners.
“We started like a house on fire,” Lions’ coach Craig Lambert said. “Then we struggled to maintain the pressure. But we finished the game off.”
“We had our chances,” Saints’ coach Damian Zanic said. “But couldn’t kick the goals when the opportunities were there.”
Reflecting on a year when his team made the finals despite losing several key players from 2013, he related that it was a frustrating year regarding some players’ commitments outside of footy. “But I had a committed group of players that wanted to listen and learn,” he said.
The preliminary final match-up is between Reservoir and South Morang at Epping Recreation Reserve, with the winner to meet Thomastown next Saturday.
Although Reservoir put in arguably its worst performance of the season in the second semi-final, it was only a week earlier that the Mustangs brushed aside the Lions in a lopsided encounter.
In fact, the Mustangs record against the Lions stands at 3 – 0, with Reservoir’s winning margins being 28, 23 and 82 points.
South Morang led for most of the day in their Round 15 meeting at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in their closest loss to Reservoir, but was overrun in the final term. Mustang Daniel Couwenberg was exceptional on that day and also named best in their recent clash – in which David McGregor kicked six goals.
Lion Jake Potter will be a key player in attempting to limit the effect of the Reservoir forwards.
Both teams have some sore players and may need to make changes. Reservoir has a number of regular senior players impressing in the reserves. Leigh Sullivan missed the past two games would be a handy inclusion, while ruckman Ryan Keyes has been finding touch upon return from injury and may come under consideration.
The South Morang reserves team had a big win on Sunday. Those named in the best have not played senior football in 2014 – but the inclusion of an untried player is possible. Sean Kirby and Joshua Stroud missed Sunday’s win over Watsonia and would come under consideration if available.
With the superior record in 2014 and an extra day’s break, Reservoir will enter the game as favourite. But South Morang will be buoyed by a return to form after two substandard efforts leading into the finals.
