Hurstbridge have booked their ticket to their first ever Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 Grand Final after defeating Greensborough by 40 points in the Preliminary Final at Epping Recreation Reserve.
Joel Cordwell’s men put in another four-quarter effort against second-placed Greensborough, securing a Grand Final berth with a 17.8 (110) to 10.10 (70) win over the Borough.
Joel Naylor starred in attack, kicking five goals, including four in the first half where him and his side broke the game wide open.
Harry O’Brien provided solid support in attack with a four-goal outing while Caelan Anderson kicked two and provided a spark in attack yet again.
Hurstbridge’s midfield of Mitchell Moschetti, William Cookson and Blake Fitzgerald were also sublime alongside Daniel Bourke who fought hard in ruck alongside Jake Wild.
For the Borough skipper Jack Johnston was a shining light yet again, with his skill and dare on full display for all.
The defence of James McCubbin, James Grant and Zac Eastwood also stood tall at times, even without Jackson Davies who went out injured in the first quarter.
Tensions were high but Greensborough came out strong with captain Jack Johnston scoring the first goal of the game within the first three minutes.
From then, Greensborough was able to get their nose in front and keep it there through the first quarter, with two late goals seeing the Borough up by 14 points at the first break.
Hurstbridge, keen to turn it around, began to break a lead in the second quarter after not even ten minutes and despite the Borough kicking the first goal of the term.
Joel Naylor and Caelan Anderson put up quite a fight in the forward line to give Hurstbridge a presence, one they kept for the rest of the game.
This resulted in a Hurstbridge blitz in the second quarter, kicking nine goals to the Borough’s two to rush out to a 29-point lead at half time.
The third quarter was tighter than ever with both teams only scoring one goal the whole quarter. Finals nerves were on full display as there was another six behinds this quarter between the two teams.
The scores were close, the tensions were high and the crowd was on the edge of their seats. Hurstbridge managed to keep their lead heading into the last quarter as they entered 29 points up.
This lead was just enough to get them that bit further as they cemented the win in the final quarter, kicking the opening goal of the term within the first 10 seconds.
They then added another four goals to Greensborough’s three in the last quarter to seal a famous 40-point triumph over the Borough.
