Old Eltham Collegians have clinched a spot in the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 finals series after defeating Old Paradians by 21 points at Eltham College.
With their fate in their own hands, the Turtles confirmed a finals appearance after making the most of their opportunities in a contest that saw heavy momentum swings, particularly in the early stages.
The hosts did the damage in the opening half, as a 13-point quarter time lead extended out to a 46-point half time advantage on their way to a 13.8 (86) to 10.5 (65) victory.
With the winning result, Old Eltham Collegians finished the home and away campaign in fourth position and head into the finals series on a four-game winning streak. They’ll face Epping in a massive elimination final next week.
The Raiders meanwhile settled for second in their inaugural season in the NFNL and will take on Mernda in Saturday’s qualifying final.
Brent Macaffer and Kieran Malone lead the way for the victorious side, with the latter managing three majors as well as Benjamin Gill, who has now kicked 14 goals in his five senior games in 2024.
Tim Ellis and Hugh Kavanagh were also brilliant in the defensive end for the Turtles, keeping their opposition to just four scoring shots for the entire first half, which helped set up their team’s eventual win.
Skipper Marcus Nolan had a strong outing for the Raiders and finished in his side’s best for the third consecutive game.
Lachie Kerr meanwhile impacted the scoreboard the most for his team with three goals. It’s now the seventh time he has kicked three majors of more in a match in 2024, capping off his terrific home and away campaign.
It took just two minutes for Macaffer to impose himself on the contest, being the beneficiary of a holding the ball decision inside 50 before saluting for the first major of the day.
A reply was met quickly, with Blair Healy bringing down a big grab on the paint of 50 to get the visitors on the board.
Sam Warren was a dominant aerial presence in the first half before getting injured, and displayed his best work halfway through the first quarter when he rose high and took a spectacular grab in the pocket, finishing his good work off with a goal.
Moments later he reeled in another impressive mark and this time, opted to find Benjamin Gill who drilled the first of his two opening term majors. Gill slotted his second goal just minutes later to put the home side 13 points to the good at quarter time.
Matthew Sleeman put an emphasis on forward 50 entries when addressing his team at quarter-time, knowing if given a chance, his dangerous forward line would make the most of their opportunities.
It would prove to be the case in the second term which became deciding quarter between the two teams, as the Turtles piled on five goals while keeping Old Paradians to a solitary behind.
Warren booted his second to continue his terrific opening half, before his side went on to kick four more unanswered majors in just 15 minutes of play to blow the margin out to a game-high 46 points.
Kieran Malone was the hot hand for Old Eltham Collegians, managing three successive majors in a seven-minute period. His final goal perfectly summing up the Turtles dominant quarter, as pinpoint pass from Macaffer found the leading forward and despite the tricky shot at goal, he made no mistake.
Despite the large deficit they faced at half-time, the Raiders refused to go down without a fight, and they couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the second half, with Kyle O’Sullivan striking in the opening minute.
It would start a chain of four straight majors for the visitors, which cut the margin back to as little as 22 points at the 16-minute mark of the term.
Beaudie Maroney would get the much-needed major for the Turtles to break their opponents’ momentum before each side traded goals to set the margin at 27 points at three quarter time.
Matthew Sleeman’s men would all but seal the match inside the opening minute of the first term when Thomas Burns kicked truly and with their advantage at 33 points, it looked as though both sides were ready to settle for the inevitable result.
Despite the lacklustre final term, Marcus Nolan produced a classy highlight for visitors, selling some candy and converting on the run.
But as the full-time siren sounded, the Turtles celebrated as they booked a third consecutive finals appearance in the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 competition.
