This is what the big men did in the Bunyip-Nar Nar Goon reserves second semi … and it’s what they’ll be doing again on Saturday when the teams clash in the grand final. The Dogs beat an inaccurate Goon by nine points a fortnight ago.
By Ken Moore
NAR Nar Goon reserves moved into the grand final after a hard-fought 14-point victory over Ellinbank.
The Goon trailed by two points at half-time, before two goals apiece in the third quarter to Scott Haughton and Ben Fenton gave it a handy 15-point lead at the last break.
Ellinbank reduced the lead to only eight points early in the last quarter when Jeremy Gray goaled, but soon after Nar Nar Goon iced the game with a running goal by Phil Cahill.
Haughton was superb as a lead-up forward in the second half; Jackson Fromhold, Phil Cahill and Leigh Noonan were good midfield drivers and wingman Matt Rice enjoyed a productive game.
Allan McArthur was his ever-reliable self in defence and Jarryd Hendrix kept key Banker forward Brad Glover quiet. Too many skill errors and some poor decision making, when they had the ball, hurt the Bankers.
Veterans Kristian Bingham and Brett Kahan were often in the thick of the midfield action, Simon Dawson was swung all over the ground and acquitted himself well, ruckman Ricky Johnson put in a very competitive effort and Col Smith provided good resistance in defence.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:THIRDS
NEERIM Neerim South proved far too strong for Garfield in the thirds preliminary final.
The Cats kicked six goals to nil in the first quarter and put the result out of sight when it added a further five in the second quarter to take a 53-point lead into the main break.
On-ballers Josh Morrison and Jack Ward produced a constant stream of attacks, centre-half-forward Thomas Slate provided a springboard into attack and Chris Saunders was rock solid at centre-half-back.
Garfield struggled to contain the lively two-pronged forward attack of Joel Whitford, who kicked four first-half goals and Kody Wilson, who bagged three.
The Cats will face a selection dilemma this week because Whitford and Wilson have been regular seniors this season, where they have put in a few striking performances and are likely to be needed in the firsts on Saturday.
Credit to Garfield, though, because, it rallied to outscore Neerim in the second half. Jacob Colman and Jeremy MacDonald, both in the last line of defence and through the middle, made their presence felt and Ryan Louch was a good target across the forward line, kicking three goals. Joel Collis had a dip at both ends and ruckmen Nathaniel Tonkin and Eddie Morris were out and about the packs.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Fourths
KOOWEERUP fourths claimed a grand final berth after a 31-point victory over Buln Buln. After quarter-time, the Demons midfield dictated terms and Kooweerup drew clear, notching seven goals to two over the ensuing quarters.
Jake Lucas (three goals) and Taylor Stafford (two) were prominent across the forward line and Andrew Proctor, Luke Krastek and Philip Backman won the nod of approval from coach-ing staff for good games.
League best and fairest Tyson Bale was busy for the Lyrebirds and received good support from Todd Hall and Harley Nobelius, while Josh Winfield was the sole multiple goalkicker for the Lyrebirds.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:FIFTHS
ELLINBANK waltzed home by 47 points over Buln Buln in the fifths. The Lyrebirds could not stop Banker forwards Will Jolley (four goals) and Thomas Robertson (three) and Mitchell Witham and Sean Masterson were never far away from the action.
Charlie Park, James Fowler-Ireland and Callum Hobson all boxed on well for the Lyrebirds.
