CaseyCardinia first semifinal

Below: Young Lion Karl Russo attacks helpless Eagle Daniel Mislicki with a ferocity that saw Pakenham snatch a thrilling onepoint result over the reigning premiers, knocking them out of the finals race.Below: Young Lion Karl Russo attacks helpless Eagle Daniel Mislicki with a ferocity that saw Pakenham snatch a thrilling onepoint result over the reigning premiers, knocking them out of the finals race.

By Brad Kingsbury
PAKENHAM snatched a glorious, thrilling onepoint victory over reigning premiers Beaconsfield at Doveton on Sunday, to move within one win of a grandfinal berth.
At the end of the game controversy reigned with the goal that put the Lions in front at the 30minute mark of the final term (after four lead changes) resulting from a free kick in a marking contest to Lions captain Seb Paynter.
The umpire then awarded Paynter a 50metre penalty against 2004 premiership hero Dean Burnell for not returning the ball quickly enough.
The Lions will now meet Narre Warren in next Sunday’s preliminary final at Berwick – the winner to meet Doveton in the grand final.
The breathtaking match saw the end of Eagles coach Leigh Clifford’s tenure, after announcing his retirement last month, and was a bittersweet end to a stellar career that included four premierships with the club as a coach and/or player.
“Football is unbelievable isn’t it,” Clifford mused afterwards.
“I suppose it had to happen after the career in the game I’ve had just to bring me back down a notch or two.
“They don’t hand premierships out they’ve got to be earned. I’ve had 20 years in the game and managed to get four, but that’s definitely it. I need a rest.”
The battle between the two traditional foes was a cracker from start to finish and it was the exploits of the Lions’ exciting teenaged forward Luke Walker that provided the spark to seal the upset with three goals in the final term.
The umpiring, particularly in the last quarter, drew criticism from both camps, but nothing detracted from the spectacle as the underrated Pakenham side refused to lie down and recorded a memorable finals’ victory in perfect conditions for football.
Pakenham included Paynter and youngster Darren Boyd for injured pair Cory Lenders and John Atwell, while the Eagles lost Clint Evans to injury, replaced by Brett Hogan.
The Lions opened the game running and kicked five goals to the Eagles two in the first quarter to signal that they were not to be taken lightly by their more experienced and physically imposing opponents.
Craig Jackson was given the job on Lion spearhead Glen Wouters and Michael Fisher went to Simon Ponter.
At the other end Beaconsfield goalmachine Luke McConnell was marked by Stuart Burridge, while his Lion teammate Justin Sutherland took on Matt Kenny.
The Lions were led brilliantly by star midfielders Lincoln Withers and coach Michael Holland, while Beaconsfield counterparts, including Kris Fletcher and Daniel Charles, also proved a handful, together with 18yearold forward Tory Dickson.
Beaconsfield players responded to Clifford’s quartertime plea for a lift across the board and the game opened up into a freeflowing affair in the second quarter.
Both teams had fiveminute periods of domination, but Dickson’s third goal late in the term, combined with McConnell’s second, saw the Eagles snatch a fourpoint lead at the 31minute mark of the term and hold that until halftime.
Many patrons thought that the Lions had run their race at the main break, but they refused to be intimidated by the Eagles relentless style.
Only three goals were scored in the third quarter, one to Beaconsfield and two to the Lions, with Pakenham taking a twopoint lead into the final huddle.
Clifford was measured in his address and implored his players to remain focussed and stick to their game plan of kicking long and direct, while Holland just asked for full commitment.
Walker booted an early goal, which was quickly answered by McConnell.
A hectic 10minute burst produced no scoring and then Walker booted his second goal for the term to blow the Lions’ lead out to eight points.
Justin Duffy replied for Beaconsfield and then McConnell put the Eagles in front with a free kick from an outonthefull decision.
Walker goaled to regain a twopoint lead for the Lions at the 22minute mark, before McConnell kicked his sixth goal to give the Eagles the lead with three minutes to go.
The game looked destined to be Beaconsfield’s until Paynter calmly goaled after being awarded the free kick and 50metre penalty against Burnell.
McConnell missed a long shot at goal seconds before the siren sounded to signal the end of an era at Beaconsfield and the start of a new one at the Toomuc Reserve.
Fletcher and McConnell were standouts for Beaconsfield, while the class and hardness of star Lion Withers, together with Justin Sutherland, Robbie Elston and Nathan Brown proved the key to the game.
This match had it all and proved that Pakenham was the real deal, an observation that Holland acknowledged afterwards.
“It’s probably one of the best wins I’ve been involved with,” he said.
Holland said it was a privilege to be involved with such a good group of young players.
“We’ve developed a special bond and it’s been growing since the (round13) Devon Meadows game,” he said.
“I said before the game that it was going to be like a war and whichever side was prepared to sacrifice themselves for the whole day would win it. It was a special win for sure.
“They’re a great side Beaconsfield and that makes it an even better win. We made some glaring errors at times and we’ve got a lot to learn, but for these kids to play in and win a final like that – well, their education just jumps ahead.”

RESERVES

DEVON Meadows reversed its previous week’s form to score a 28point victory over ROC in the first semifinal.
The Panthers were stung into action after a poor showing the week before against Pakenham. They looked to have more composure from the first bounce and extended a fivepoint lead at quartertime to make it 15 points at the long break.
Chris Langley and David Phillips took control after halftime, booting nine goals between them for the game and presenting as a dualpronged attack.
Experienced Devon Meadows big man Paul Freestone was best afield, with assistance from Matt Walters and Stephen Lucas.
ROC ended its gallant charge with David Turner, Luke McGee and Anthony Jones among its better performers on the day.

UNDER 18

BERWICK continued its giantkilling finals campaign by taking the scalp of Beaconsfield in Sunday’s cutthroat first semifinal.
The 26point defeat started an ordinary day for the Eagles with the seniors also exiting the 2005 finals’ series.
The game was in the balance until the final term when Berwick overran its tired looking opponents, booting five goals to two. Better players for the winners included Darren Sheen, Brett Robinson and Paul Vanschilt, while Beaconsfield was well served by Daniel Pavlovic, Scott Threfall and Damien Szwaja.