Kilmore have claimed their first ever finals victory in the NFNL senior men’s competition after defeating Kinglake by five points in the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 Elimination Final at Main Street Recreation Reserve.
Despite having 10 less scoring shots than the Lakers, the Two Blues held on for a 5.4 (34) to 2.17 (29) victory, keeping their season alive while ending Kinglake’s season in the process.
Coming into the first weekend of finals, Kinglake finished fourth while Kilmore finished fifth on the division three ladder. The two teams faced each other the week prior, with the Blues taking away a nail-biting three-point win.
Bailey Caldow and captain Bailey Robinson led the Lakers, Robinson was electric in the midfield with his high footy IQ. Bailey Derrick and Marcus Lacorica were standouts from the Blues, with Jake Hibbs-Hall kicking three for the side.
Opening up the game was Lachlan Chesher, kicking the first goal for the Blues. Soon after Mitchell O’Dwyer kicked another goal for the Blues out of a pack in the goal square.
The Lakers had three scoring opportunities but were unable to score a goal, leading to the Blues to take a nine-point lead into the quarter time break.
In the second term, Kinglake proved they were able to gain the ball within their forward half frequently but pressure from Kilmore’s backline led to rush kicks and the Lakers kicking five behinds in the second quarter, but still unable to put a goal on the board.
In the final moments of the second term, Brian Lawrence kicked a goal for Kilmore to get the only goal of the term, with Kilmore maintaining their lead 3.3 (21) to 0.9 (9).
Ethan Robinson opened with the first goal of the second half, putting a much-needed goal on the board for the Lakers. The Lakers continued to have another four scoring shots but were unable to capitalise kicking behinds.
Defensive efforts from Grant Paxton didn’t go unnoticed as he proved to be a reckoning force in the backline, while Mitchell O’Dwyer kicked another goal for Kilmore, as they led 4.3 (27) to 1.13 (19) coming into the last quarter.
Entering the last quarter, there were only eight points between the pair as the Blues managed to sustain their lead. Kinglake had five scoring shots to Kilmore’s two, but the Lakers were unable to capitalise from the opportunities due to inaccuracy.
After Jaden Smith kicked the first of the last, Damian Pywell then kicked a stunning goal deep in time on to set up another epic finish between the two country clubs of Division 3.
In the end inaccuracy cost the Lakers as Kilmore took away a nail-biting five-point win, 5.4 (34) to 2.17 (29) as they advance into the semi finals.
Paul Derrick’s men now meet Ivanhoe this Sunday in the first semi-final after the Hoers went down to Laurimar in the Qualifying Final
