Watsonia ended a seven-game losing streak to survive another season in MC Labour Division 2, claiming a 22-point victory at Laurimar Reserve over a Laurimar outfit who will return to Division 3 in 2025.
In a game filled with momentum swings, the Saints turned a four-point half time deficit into an 11-point three quarter lead before they pulled away from the Power in the final term.
At an end that made scores hard to come by, the visitors generated seven scoring opportunities in that last quarter, after seven in total had been kicked to that end throughout the first three quarters. It would help the Saints salute in a 12.10 (82) to 9.6 (60) triumph.
For the Saints, Ethan Lowe was unstoppable down forward, particularly in the second half, kicking three majors to make it 57 goals for the 2024 season.
He was also brilliant up the ground, effectively delivering the ball to fellow forwards such as Rayden Garrard who returned to the side for the first time since Round 10 and had an immediate impact with a season-high of three goals, all coming in the first term.
Daniel Annetta finished as his side’s best once again with another outstanding effort in midfield to truly be Watsonia’s most consistent player of this year’s campaign.
In the forward half, for the Power, Joel Lawson was on a tear, especially in the second quarter, as his side mounted a comeback after a poor first term. He hit the scoreboard and dishevelled the ball off to find his forwards with ease.
When Power ruckman Josh Leather came off the ground with an injury early in the piece, Aidan Clarke stepped up and proved himself as a force in ruck contests to almost help his side get over the line.
The Saints showcased their intent early in the game with the first four majors of the match inside just eight minutes of action.
Toby Berardi opened the scoring after being the benefactory of a 50-metre penalty, before Garrard slotted the next pair of goals, the latter being a brilliant goal on the run from the pocket.
It wasn’t just on the attacking end that the Saints were getting on top, as their defensive unit were standing tall to challenge Laurimar’s forwards and prevent them from getting a single look on goal.
The Power eventually broke through to get on the board, with great transitional play through the corridor ending with a Nathan Andrews goal, but that was answered by Garrard, who converted his shot on goal to make it three for the term for the key forward.
Despite the threat of the margin extending, Jimmy Atkins’ men were able to settle in the latter part of the quarter with the last two goals, gaining some momentum as they chased a 15-point deficit to start the second term.
The Power looked to be capitalising on their recent momentum run and just minutes into the next quarter, Kaiden Arthur found the big sticks to make it an eight-point ball game.
As the term wore on, it became apparent that the grandstand end of Laurimar Reserve was the scoring end and with the breeze in their backs, the home side were starting to find themselves on top of every facet of the game.
Joel Lawson started to work himself into the contest during this term and proved instrumental in the Power eventually hitting the lead, first through a goal of his own, before his set up Cooper Burns with a beautiful kick inside 50.
Laurimar would keep the Saints goalless and head into the main break with a four-point advantage, but Luke Pantalone was quick to end the home side’s five-goal run at the start of the second half, with his major giving the Saints back the lead.
Campbell Walker was able to hit back for the Power at the 10-minute mark, a period in which the play was being shared between the two sides.
Daniel Annetta would then kick an outrageous goal, when with the right boot, deep in the left forward pocket, he somehow got the ball through for a major, sending the Saints crowd into a frenzy.
Ethan Lowe would continue the strong vibes for the visitors, when he looked to top his teammate’s effort moments later, when he broke two tackles and dribbled the ball through for a ridiculous finish to get himself on the board.
Annetta and Lowe’s majors helped establish a nine-point lead for Watsonia at three quarter time but had to prepare for facing a strong breeze in the last quarter.
However, against the wind, the Saints drew first blood courtesy of Luke Pantalone, before Lowe took a terrific, contested grab and calmly slotted his second of the day, suddenly ballooning the away side’s lead to 21 points at the seven-minute mark.
Laurimar struggled to get their hands on the footy and propel it forward until Jacob Lawson took a great intercept mark and converted truly to bring some life into a potential comeback for the home side.
But Lowe had other ideas, and when he took another excellent contested mark and found the big sticks for the third time for the afternoon, the game looked all but over.
From then on out, the game limped to a close, with neither side generating any real opportunities apart from a consolation goal from Noah Mooney with minutes remaining.
The siren sounded and confirmed the fates of both sides, with the Saints confirming their place in the 2025 Division 2 season by just two points.
