BEACONSFIELD Superules thirddivision side secured a spot in this year’s finals by defeating Murrumbeena last weekend by 22 points.
However, things did not start well for Beaconsfield, as Cameron was a late withdrawal, presenting Vandenberghe with the challenge of ruck duties for the game.
Beaconsfield started well with two quick goals, however Murrumbeena started to play more accountable football and manned up, not allowing Beaconsfield to run.
Murrumbeena started to control the game and posted three goals to give it a sixpoint lead at the first break.
The second term started slowly until Beaconsfield rotated Bell off the bench and he immediately won possessions and an easy goal for Beaconsfield.
Lowe was in and under the packs, while Busacca was everywhere working and talking in the middlehowever Beaconsfield could not get it deep enough forward to cap off the good play around the middle of the ground.
Beaconsfield’s backline was working well with Ross not letting his opponent get a kick. Late in the term Gubbins drifted into the forward to kick Beaconsfield fourth of the game to go in one goal down at half time.
At half time coach Valentine made some positional changes with Vinny into the ruck, Walsh to centre halfback, Gubbins to centre halfforward and Vandenberghe to fullforward.
Vinny proved to be the big move, as his presence in the ruck gave Beaconsfield midfielders first use of the ball.
Marsh, from the backline, was running forward to allow Beaconsfield to switch the play a number of times with three goals in the first nine minutes of the quarter.
The backline was doing exactly what Valentine instructed and kept Murrumbeena scoreless during the term.
The last quarter was a struggle with neither side winning clear possession.
The tackling and pressure from both sides was good.
Burr, on a wing, drifted down to mark 30metres out and kick Beaconsfield’s first goal for the term, then late in the quarter Gubbins took a strong mark and kicked truly put the game beyond doubt.
Scores: Beaconsfield 10.10.70 d Murrumbeena 7.6.48.
Goals: Gubbins 3, Vandenberghe 2, Ward, Bell, Stewart, Lowe and Burr 1.
Best: Vinny, Marsh, Ross and Walsh.