A five-goal final term from the Fitzroy Stars propelled them to a brilliant seven-point victory over Old Eltham Collegians at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
With scores level heading into the last change and the Turtles kicking to what appeared to be the scoring end, the Turtles sense an opportunity to establish an advantage.
But the Stars rallied hard in the last quarter, with a five-goal term proving enough to prevail 13.11 (89) to 13.4 (82).
It was Kain Proctor who ran amuck inside the centre square, bursting out of stoppages and stamping his authority on the game with two majors. Jai Burns was just as brilliant as an inside midfielder, and also managed to produce a goal of his own.
Up forward, Stars pair James Dau and Rivva Karpany were instrumental in the second half and particularly so in the last term. Karpany kicked the sealer, while Dau was effective as ever.
For the Turtles, despite taking his time to work into the game, Brent Macaffer proved influential in giving Old Eltham Collegians the best chance of victory. He kicked a season-high three majors, two of them coming in the final term.
He was joined by Kieran Malone and Jay Smith-Marks, who helped the visitors settle into the game during the second quarter.
The Fitzroy Stars only had to wait three minutes to see their first major slotted through by Alex Williamson. As he snuck behind the pack, the ball spilled out to him, and he ran himself into an open goal to get proceedings underway.
Williamson found himself on the end of a very similar play moments later and he scored his second goal within 30 seconds.
The Stars were eager to take the ball through the middle of the ground at every opportunity, often distributing by hand with a sense of urgency.
Kain Proctor then showcased his skills with an excellent running goal from 50 metres out to boost the margin to 18 points, grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck only 15 minutes into the contest.
Jay Smith-Marks ended their opposition’s goal run by putting the first on the board for the Turtles before Dau kicked truly in response after a great mark inside 50, to hand his side a commanding 22-point quarter time advantage.
The hosts looked to go on with the job during the second term after Tyson Pickett kicked an absolute blinder from the boundary. As the ball sailed through the big sticks, it seemed as if everything was going the way of the Fitzroy Stars.
But as the quarter wore on, Old Eltham Collegians found getting more of the ball as they pushed forward to try and make a contest. Smith-Marks led the charge by kicking his second goal of the half.
The comeback continued, with Thomas Burns opening his account with a great goal as the Turtles slowly chipped away at the lead.
Kieran Malone then slammed home two quick goals to suddenly reduce the margin to four points by half time, with the momentum going the way of the Turtles ahead of the second half.
The third quarter began almost identical to the first, when Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson kicked the Stars’ first of the term by finding himself out the back of the pack and converting.
After a Rivva Kompany goal, Lionel Proctor’s men seemed to have wrestled some of the momentum they lost in the second term.
Jordan Proctor was particularly strong in this term, as he used the ball well from half back.
Unlike the first quarter however, the Turtles were able to respond, with Malone and Matthew Williamson creating majors to slim the margin back to less than a kick.
They would then hit the lead for the first time all afternoon following a spectacular major from Bryce Fleming.
The run and dash that the Fitzroy Stars had displayed in the first half seemed to have disappeared, but Jai Burns looked to bring it back after his side transitioned beautifully from defence to attack, where Burns was able to calmly slot the shot on goal and give his side back the lead.
Scores would eventually find themselves level at three quarter time, before the home side kicked the all-important opening major of the final term through James Trajkovski.
The intensity had lifted at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval and with both teams digging deep, the game becoming a physical contest.
Rivva Karpany and Brent Macaffer then exchanged goals throughout the final stages of the match, but it was Karpany’s brilliance in front of the big sticks that proved enough foe the home side to take the four points.
His sealing goal was his best, picking up the difficult ball with ease and with Turtles defenders hot on his tail, he dribbled the ball through for a goal.
That goal made it a 13-point ball game and while Macaffer managed another for the visitors, it was too little too late, as the Stars claimed their eighth win of the season.
