The Courier | A dominant opening quarter from North Ballarat City has set up a 15-point victory over Redan in the preliminary final, in what was a bruising affair between two powerhouses of the competition.
North piled on the first eight goals of the match, six of which came in the first term, stunning a vocal Lions crowd into silence and ensuring a chance at a three-peat next week against Darley in the grand final.
Redan didn’t die wondering though, clawing their way back into the match in the second half, largely thanks to the two-pronged attack of Grant Bell and Brenton Riordan, who booted nine out of the Lion’s 12 goals for the match between them.
North’s dominance to begin the match stemmed from the ability of their prime movers to get first use of the ball from the middle, with Simon McCartin leading a host of City midfielders to record over 25 possessions despite getting steamrolled late in the second term.
Redan’s Dean Chester was reported and yellow carded for the late hit in the middle of the ground, but McCartin returned to the field promptly to continue his best afield performance.
As much as 49 points down early in the second term, Redan fought bravely in the last half to draw within 13 points, with Bell (four goals) and Riordan (five) monstering a tired City defensive unit who went away from their attacking ways of the first half and instead lapsed into conservative football.
The headstart afforded to North proved too much to reel in thoug, and when Shaun Lyle dragged down a magnificent pack mark and calmly slotted his third goal late in the last term it seemed like the match was over.
In a desperate final few minutes Redan squandered its chances, kicking the last four points of the match, including two posters, to be left wondering what might have been for the third preliminary final in a row.
Derick Micallef continued his stellar return from injury with four majors while Marcus Darmody made the most of his opportunity afforded by Jarryd Graham’s suspension with two goals and plenty of presence up forward.
Jarrod Edwards, Tyler George and Lou Campana stood out alongside McCartin, while for Redan Jarod Bacon and Ashley Ballinger performed well.
North’s Mitch Gilbert was stretchered off early in the third quarter with what appeared to be a serious right knee injury and will almost certainly miss next week’s decider against the well-rested Devils.
