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NEWTOWN & Chilwell will play off against Bell Park for a second consecutive year in this Sunday's first semi-final.
Eagles Coach Jacob Spolding watched on as his side celebrated its first finals win in two years, defeating Lara 15.9 (99) to 12.18 (90). But the victory came at a cost with former AFL player Cain Ackland leaving the ground mid-way through the third term with an achilles tendon injury that casts doubt on his season.
Though scores were level at the main break, Newtown & Chilwell fought hard against the wind, controlling possession in a 30-minute period which would see seven lead changes.
"I thought we did play a really good first half to be honest," Spolding said.
"Going into the second-half level, they had more scoring shots than us and you probably could say that they kicked themselves out of the next week.
"But I thought we were always going to keep in front of the game after the way our boys were able to play in that second quarter."
Former North Melbourne player Justin Perkins kicked three of his four goals for the day prior to half-time, while also setting up two to Jai Sheahan in a clear best-on-ground performance.
"He has been fantastic for this footy club and he will continue to be, that's the type of footy he can play and we know he is capable of what he did today," Spolding said.
Spolding said Ackland was in doubt for next week.
"I think at this stage it's a partial tear of his achilles," Spolding said.
"I'm not 100 per cent sure, hopefully we'll find out more in the next 24 hours. I don't think he'll be playing next week."
As Mick Stanley and forward Sheahan shared the ruck duties for the rest of the match after Ackland went down, the Eagles welcomed the absence of the strong breeze in the final term, allowing reserve players Jackson Kelly and Tom Veale to seal the deal with two snapshot goals.
After kicking seven goals last week closing in on the century, Lara forward Shaydon Bloomfield kicked only three early majors due to a heavy tag by defender Luke Kermond.
Coach blasts umps
LARA coach Matt Kershaw was devastated after his side bowed out of the 2013 GFL finals series yesterday, beaten by nine points by Newtown&Chilwell.
‘‘The umpiring was terrible, both ways,’’ Kershaw said. ‘‘Football Geelong is in a lot of trouble if that was the standard we have to put up with.’’
Twelve men made their senior finals debut in the blue and white, and many of them had an impact on the opening passages of play.
Dylan Jose was first to make his mark with the game’s opening major, before second-year recruit Matt Taylor conjured up an impressive left-foot goal from what seemed to be a near-impossible angle.
However, Lara’s narrow lead at quarter time was to crumble with inaccuracy, as the Cats scored 7.16 in the remaining three terms.
‘‘We had our chances but we didn’t take them,’’ Kershaw said.
‘‘We won every stat. We had more scoring shots, out-possessed them and had 11 more inside-50s. But if you don’t kick goals you don’t win games—it’s as simple as that.’’
Despite averaging five-plus goals a match, even Shaydon Bloomfield entered unfamiliar territory through inaccuracy, kicking just three goals before a goal-less second half, for a season total of 95.
‘‘We just kicked ourselves out of it.
I can tell you we kicked 5.18 with the breeze and 2.9 in the last quarter so you’re not going to win games of footy like that,’’ Kershaw said.
