WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE won a thriller against Greensborough in the 2014 Division 1 reserves Grand Final.
The game had everything to excite the fans – goals in the finals seconds of three of the quarters, multiple lead changes, slick handballs and dashing runs.
The Roosters trailed by five points in the dying seconds of the game when a long snap from the lively Corey Ray sailed through the big sticks.
The siren sounded almost as soon as the ball crossed the line. While some at the ground weren’t aware that the siren had sounded, the West Preston-Lakeside bench players joyously streamed onto to ground.
Soon Ray was mobbed by delirious team mates, while the Boro players looked shell-shocked as a flag slipped through their grasp in the 7.13 (55) to 8.6 (54) result.
Soon after, Rooster coach Matthew Sleeman and captain Shaun Barker held the premiership cup aloft in front of the adoring fans. Solid defender Thomas O’Neill was awarded the medal for best on ground.
“We failed to put scoreboard pressure on Greensborough in the third quarter,” said a relieved Sleeman. “And we left the door ajar.”
In fact, the Roosters appeared to control the game after quarter time – after the Boro had an early 18-point lead having first use of the breeze.
Cameron Jordan was the most dangerous forward for Greensborough. As well as kicking goals himself, he also dished out some very creative handballs to players in space.
The best was a look-away handpass to Liam Bowkett – who slotted a goal seconds prior to the quarter time buzzer.
The Boro were on top early in both pressure and creative use of the footy. But the Roosters fought their way back into the contest.
An errant kick from the Greensborough defence led to an easy goal from Niall McDonagh. McDonagh had been assigned to follow Sean Salmon, after Salmon was brilliant early.
A timely Zachary Watkins goal on the stroke of half time put West Preston-Lakeside narrowly in front for the first time.
The third term saw three lead changes as Greensborough kicked with the wind.
The Boro’s Cameron Jordan kicked two majors from frees either side of a clever goal from Rooster Shaun Barker from close in.
With the Roosters winning the contested ball clearly and Brad Sanderson getting a heap of possession in space, they attacked for the latter part of the third term.
But they missed some very gettable shots and trailed by a solitary point at the last break – despite appearing to be in control of the game.
As they were coming home with the wind, most pundits expected the minor premier to run away with the game.
However, Greensborough lifted and booted the first two goals of the final stanza.
The second of these came after the highly effective Adrian Cataldo received a 50-metre penalty. His goal made the lead a tantalising 14 points halfway through the term.
But then the Roosters responded. They attacked relentlessly for the rest of the match. However, much of it was haphazard.
The ball often seesawed between Greensborough’s extra defenders inside 50 – easily repelling wayward long bombs – and the Rooster wall across half forward.
The first final-term goal for West Preston-Lakeside came from a solid Michael Perfetto mark close in. But the large crowd was kept waiting until the final kick of the day by Ray before the Roosters laid claim to the flag.
A disappointed Greensborough coach Wayne Darrington was nonetheless very proud of his team. “Mateship, courage and endurance defined our team,” he noted.
The Boro went within a whisker of a clean sweep on the day – with the seniors and under 19s both posting impressive wins. The reserves loss denied Greensborough becoming the second team behind Reservoir-Lakeside in 1975 to win the Division 1 three-peat.
Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 7.13 (55) def Greensborough 8.6 (54)
