Leader News|
NO one saw it coming. No one except Keysborough coach Chris Bryan.
The Burra were the talk of the Casey Cardinia Football League on Saturday after stunning Cranbourne by three points at Casey Fields.
In a tight, high-scoring affair, an inspired Keysborough pulled off the upset of the season, 16.10 (106) to 16.7 (103).
Bryan was the hero late in the game - his fourth goal was the go-ahead kick for the Burra, who managed to hold on and clinch their fourth win of the season.
It was the first time Cranbourne had lost a game to a team other than Narre Warren since a semi-final loss to Beaconsfield in 2010.
Tyson King continued his fantastic season for Keysy, kicking seven goals.
While the win came as a shock to the competition, Bryan was not surprised.
"Everyone is calling it a massive upset, but we went to Casey Fields firmly believing that our best football would be good enough," Bryan said.
"We have confidence in our ability to match it with good sides and the win was reward for the effort and improvement we've shown over the last five or six weeks."
Bryan said King was outstanding.
"It's very easy as coach to be able to name Tyson King as your centre half forward every week," he said.
"If he's not winning contests, he's halving them for us.
"He's such a great talent - he's big, he's tough and he's still only 25.
"We had some fantastic players, but the key to the win was the fact that everyone did a job for us and stuck to their roles.
"We'll take a lot of confidence and belief out of the win and with some big home games to come we can really take our momentum into the second half of the season.''
Cranbourne coach Doug Koop said he stressed to his group not to take Keysborough lightly, but sensed a let-down after its big game against Narre Warren last round.
"Keysborough have been competitive against good sides over the last month and against us they just worked harder and wanted it more," Koop said.
In a dramatic final quarter, Keysborough grabbed the lead early before a seventh goal from Cranbourne captain Marc Holt put the Eagles back in front.
A mark and goal from Chris Bryan, one of the best on the ground again, put the Burra back in front late in the game, sealing a famous win for the club.
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