The 2024 Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 preliminary final delivered an entertaining finish, as Montmorency prevailed by just two points over Greensborough at Preston City Oval to win their way to their first senior men’s top flight Grand Final in 11 years.
Despite trailing at every break, the Magpies managed to claim the lead halfway through the final term and hold off a red-hot Boro side to triumph 8.10 (58) to 8.8 (56)
Billy Jenkin led the way for the Magpies in defence and has now been named in his side’s best in seven of his last eight games.
The absence of captain Stefan Uzelac meant that Jenkin took the reigns as skipper, and the ever-reliable defender produced a captain-like performance, taking multiple intercept marks at critical moments of the match.
Victorious coach Nick Rutley was full of praise for Jenkin’s performance, highlighting his importance in Montmorency’s journey to next week’s Grand Final.
“I could do with two or three more Billy Jenkin’s, that guy has just been a pillar of strength down back, our whole defence was great today,” he said.
Lachy Batchelor was almost just as impressive at the other end, and kicked three of his side’s final four majors of the game, including two goals in the last term, to help Montmorency produce a winning score.
Ben Paterson also booted three goals for the match, while Marcus Lentini starred in midfield and won clearance after clearance in often congested stoppages.
Thomas Brindley did all he could for Greensborough, putting in a strong performance to complete a terrific finals series for the Richmond VFL listed star.
Skipper Jack Johnston was huge yet again in defensive 50, as was Angus Seivers, but this time up forward, as the defender had an impact inside attacking 50 and finished with a season-high three goals.
Paterson gave his side a hot start to the contest, collecting a loose ball cleanly below his feet and snapping truly from 30 meters out to produce the first major of the day.
But the Boro would soon get the game on their terms despite conceding the opening goal, with repeat inside 50 entries allowing them to have several shots at goal.
Their first four efforts would all register minor scores, before Jamie Smith broke the drought when he converted from point-blank range.
Brody Glenn then made it consecutive goals for Boro, after the livewire forward delivered his ninth goal of the finals series.
Paterson initiated a response for the Magpies against the flow, to kick his second major, however, Matthew Hyde’s men found an immediate reply through swingman Angus Seivers, who showcased his forward craft when he outmuscled his opponent in the goal square and extended his side’s early lead.
The Boro would then close the first quarter in style, finding two late goals via Zak McCubbin and Sievers to see their dominant opening term rewarded with a 21-point advantage at the first break.
The second period was more promising for the Magpies. They controlled more of the play around the ground and had five scoring shots compared to Greensborough’s sole major.
That goal came in the form of Glenn, who crumbed beautifully off hands and extended the Boro lead to what would be a game high 24-points halfway through the term.
Montmorency continued to own territory and accumulate plenty of forward-50 entries, only to be continuously denied by Boro skipper Jack Johnston who seemed to shut down every attack Nick Rutley’s men would produce.
But after 20 minutes, the Magpies were finally rewarded for their efforts thanks to youngster Pat Dozzi, who rose high to claim a mark close to goal before successfully converting the set shot.
Greensborough’s lead sat at 17 points at the main break, but the Magpies wouldn’t take long to reduce the margin at the start of the second half when Nash Holmes found the big sticks at the five-minute mark.
Despite the fast start, the Boro would reply halfway through the term from the unlikeliest of sources, when Jack Johnston marked just inside the centre square and launched from long range to kick his third major of the season.
Greensborough fans erupted into the cheers, but that would be short lived, when after a slow start to the preliminary final, Lachy Batchelor converted a set shot opportunity from directly in front.
The rest of the third term finished in a stalemate, meaning Greensborough had an 11-point lead to hold onto ahead of the last quarter.
The all-important first goal of the final term went the way of the Magpies, with Batchelor yet again proving to be a handful for Boro defenders, with his second goal inching his side closer to the lead.
Ben Paterson would then find the go-ahead goal for the Magpies, after he was illegally pushed out of a marking contest inside 50. He composed himself and kicked truly to give Montmorency their first advantage since the opening term.
Nick Rutley’s men were truly in control at this point of the match, and Batchelor made sure of that fact, as once again, he rose to the occasion literally and figuratively, to claim big mark inside-50 before finding his third major of the second half.
As the game threatened to slip away from Greensborough, Angus Sievers kept his side in the contest when he clunked a big mark deep in the pocket, before quickly wheeling around and snapping home his third of the game to bring the margin back to just two points as time on approached.
The Boro had one last chance at victory in the final minute, as they looked to take the ball from coast-to-coast. They managed to surge the ball out of defence but as they went for the longer kick down the line, Jenkin intercepted and ensured the Magpies were victorious on a famous day for the Montmorency Football Netball Club.
