Mernda took the four points away from Hurstbridge on Saturday afternoon, keeping in contention for a spot in the final four at the end of the year.
The 15.19 (109) to 12.11 (83) victory keeps Mernda two games behind North Heidelberg and Diamond Creek in the battle for a top four spot, while the loss most likely draws curtains for the Bridges’ finals aspirations.
Hurstbridge opened the better of the two sides. Its pressure allowed Brent Hay to kick the opening goal of the afternoon, a classy 35m snap. However, Mernda soon settled and goals from Luke Drakes and Andrew O’Reilly allowed it to hit the front.
In an entertaining opening quarter, Joel Baillie wrested back control of the lead for Hurstbridge, before Matthew Rees kicked the first of his three goals.
The Dees got a break soon after with a goal from David Berryman, before Hurstbridge once again seized control of the game, despite failing to hit the scoreboard.
The Bridges kicked four consecutive behinds before reducing the margin to four points thanks to a Nick Milne goal. Another quick attack saw Jack Donnelly kick his first and gave Hurstbridge the lead by two points at quarter time.
The home side looked set to continue its run after quarter time, as Mitch Thompson opened with a goal to put it eight points up.
Again, the control of the game shifted to Mernda, as Rohan Davies kicked the all-important captain’s goal, before Drakes kicked his second of the game. Mernda’s lead would only be a brief one, as Daniel Francis kicked his first, but Anthony Volpe replied to pinch back the lead.
Young gun Francis kicked his second of the quarter to put Hurstbridge back in front in a see-sawing half of football, but Rees would add to his goal tally to give Mernda a lead that it would not relinquish for the rest of the afternoon. At half time, the Demons led by 10 points.
The third quarter would best be described as bizarre, as both teams lost their cool. Whilst Mernda would lose three players due to yellow and red cards, it was the Demons who steadied and concentrated on playing football the most.
The Demons kicked the opening three goals of the second half, thanks to Rees, Davies and Matty Duggan – who kicked his first goal in a Mernda jumper.
Hurstbridge finally steadied as Francis kicked his third, however Mernda consolidated its 28-point break thanks to a second goal from O’Reilly.
A late goal to Jack Donnelly reduced the margin to 22 points at three quarter time and when Nick Milne kicked the opening goal of the last, memories of Mernda’s fadeout loss earlier in the season seemed to play on some Demons’ minds.
However, a David Hutchinson goal eased fears of a second demoralising loss, despite a Jack Donnelly goal later on which would reduce the margin to 18 points.
Drakes kicked his third to extend the margin to 24 points, before Andrew Smith – who had been well held all day –put the icing on the cake. A late consolation goal to Josh Saw reduced the margin to 26 points, which would be the final margin as the siren sounded.
The Demons were well served by Duggan, the returning Jesse Owens-Draper, Keegan Dingo and Hutchinson, but overall it was a great team effort which allowed them to win the game. For the Bridges, Milne was superb on a half forward flank, while Mitch Thompson, Donnelly and Saw also played well.
The Demons now face the biggest game of their season as they host high-flying Whittlesea at Schotters Road, in a mini-final for the club. The Bridges travel to Diamond Creek as they look to rebound from this loss.
Final score: Hurstbridge 12.11 (83) def by Mernda 15.19 (109)
