GREENSBOROUGH ended a 25-year Division 1 Grand Final drought after defeating Macleod by 19 points in the preliminary final at Preston City Oval.
The Boro will face arch-rival Heidelberg in this week’s Division 1 premiership decider after ending Macleod’s dream finals run with a 19.14 (128) to 16.13 (109) win in a high scoring affair.
Greensborough last contended for the Division 1 premiership back in 1989 when it defeated Lalor to claim back-to-back titles.
In an evenly-balanced game up to half time, a Boro blitz in the third term put Macleod on the back foot. The Kangaroos were left flat footed, exposed down back on the rebound and without the usual dash from their half back line.
A seven-goal third term gave the Boro plenty of breathing space at three quarter time, extending their 16-point half time lead to a 41-point advantage.
Any hopes of a Macleod comeback were shut down when Jack Johnston kicked the first goal of the last term, extending Greensborough’s lead to 47 points.
If there were any doubts as to whether Greensborough had the ability to kick a winning score in the absence of Tim Bongetti, those doubts were firmly erased.
Rhys Boyden was sensational with five goals, four of which came in the first half. Johnston and Tristan Stead pushed forward to kick each kick two goals, as did Josh Callaway.
Stead was again incredible all day for the Boro, stepping up on the big stage and looking like a player built for finals footy. His ability to win his own ball at the contest and pinpoint passes into the forward 50 was invaluable in setting up the Boro’s victory.
Johnston, Callaway and Nick Riddle yet again showed why they have been handy inclusions this finals series and were among the better players on a day where you could have made a case for almost every Greensborough player to be included in the votes.
Macleod’s Cathal Corr, Nick Lynch, Patrick Martin and Laurence Schubert were among their team’s better players but weren’t joined by enough team members to conjure up the victory.
The Boro will receive a huge bonus heading into next the Grand Final with the inclusion of co-captain Bongetti.
After serving his four-game suspension, Bongetti’s inclusion will prove a positive and negative for Robert Hyde. While he will be glad to have the key forward back, he must now give someone the unfortunate news they will be dropped for the Grand Final.
After finishing eighth last season and seventh on the ladder the season before, the Boro have produced a sensational revival after fighting in the relegation battle in years gone past.
Greensborough enters the Grand Final on the same path as last year’s premier Bundoora and will be hoping to turn the tables on Heidelberg after losing all three encounters this season, including the 15-point loss in the second semi final.
It will be a sea of green and white on Division 1 Grand Final day at Preston City Oval with each Greensborough team progressing through to the Grand Final and each team every chance of winning their respective match.
Macleod kicked six goals in the last quarter but all these were consolation goals as the win for the Boro was never in doubt once they led by eight goals.
The Kangaroos will be disappointed they were never able to get their fast ball movement going in the preliminary final. In patches early in the game they were able to spread quickly from the back half and open up the Boro back six, exposing them on the turnovers.
While they were unable to reach the Grand Final, this season will be considered a very successful one with plenty of positives for coach Garry Ramsay to build on in 2015.
Final score: Greensborough 19.14 (128) def Macleod 16.13 (109)
