Minor premiers SALE CITY followed on from a near-faultless home and away season on Saturday to secure a grand final berth for the first time in 11 seasons.
The Tigers managed to stay on level terms in a dogged first half at Woodside, before Sale City clicked into gear in the third term, piling on the first three goals of the quarter to open up a 19 point lead.
Sale City's control of the game was ensured by their midfield dominance, the Dogs more than doubling the Tigers in the disposal count and in the number of times they moved the ball into attack in the match winning premiership third term.
Taking a 16 point lead into the final stanza, Dogs coach Nick Hider wanted more from his side knowing the importance the first goal of the final term had on extinguishing Gormandale's spark.
"We must get the first goal, straight out of the centre quickly forward," Hider said.
"We want to smash the game open in the early part of the term, let's keep them to three goals for the quarter as we have all match."
The Dogs heeded their coach's words the side drilling the ball straight from the centre of the ground to start the final term, Troy Cairstairs shot at goal touched through the posts.
Gormandales defence led by Wayne Henry executed the ball forward into the hands of dangerous forward and the Tigers best on ground Daniel Trease, who had no problem slotting through his third major to reel the margin back to 11 points.
Clint Counahan responded for the Dogs his shot bouncing over the top of the defender heads; it was followed by a precession of minor scores.
Ruckman Matt Lutze's shot feel short in the goal square; Henry and Cairstairs were caught in an arm wrestle as they saw the ball through for a behind.
A strong mark by Jake Schuback from the kick in set up Hider for the sides 12th major, Hiders shot spraying the face of goal.
Toby Callanan looked to respond for the Tigers, placing too much on the kick he missed all as the ball fell into the hands of a large pack near the behind post, before Trease created some magic for Gormandale his fourth placing them within a kick.
Schuback responded from the centre bounce, his pace through the middle saw him shrug a number of tackles to drill the ball to Justin Brown, Tiger defender Steve Burgess laying a high tackle to gift Brown a shot at goal.
The pressure of the shot saw the ball fall into the lap of Jake Milham who set up Stephan Mapleson to goal.
Mapleson's major the final score of the day, City prevailing by 11 points 12.16 (88) to 11.11 (77).
Sale City were well served by Joel Brayshaw who played one of his best games in the Dogs gurnsey, he had a number of players pitted against him throughout the match with his height and football brain proving to trouble the Tigers.
Midfielders Rowan Bell and Jake Milham ensured the Dogs got first use of the ball with Rod McGinness and Jesse Broadbent combining well to shut down Gormandale's danger forwards.
Recalled to the line-up in the absence of Justin McLay youngster Michael Walsh made the most of his opportunities, recording two majors in a strong performance which attracted plenty of attention from Gormandale's defence of Burgess, Henry, Adam Jaensch and Mark Adams.
Josh Tollner was creative finding plenty of space in the second term when the Dogs threatened to blow the game apart before consecutive majors to Tiger Frank Marks ensured Gormandale went into the long change within arms reach.
City Captain Beau Wilson led from the front, his first major rewarding the efforts of his side's backline.
Gormandale's Trease was a standout for the Tigers, acting as a barometer he was moved into the midfield on a number of occasions looking to spark his side. Paul Rouget and Marks provided plenty of run in the middle of the ground with Henry and Jaensch staunch performers down back.
The only negative mark against the Dogs win was the report of Troy Cairstairs following an altercation with Gormandale's Shane Higgins in the Tigers forward pocket midway through the second term which saw Cairstairs yellow carded.
FIRST SEMI FINAL: Blues run rampant over Magpies
ROSEDALE for the second week running have survived the elimination final by bursting out of the blocks, with the result all but confirmed by half time.
Making easy pickings of the opposition, holding Glengarry to a mere two goals in the opening half, the Blues took a 59 point lead into the long change and didn't let up in the premiership term slamming on six goals to three with the final term a formality.
Nick Taylor kicked six goals and Andrew Flanagan five as Rosedale advanced to a preliminary final showdown against Gormandale after flogging Glengarry by 102 points at Stratford.
The Blues were predictably in charge from the outset and always had the Magpies' measure, winning 23.18 (156) to 8.6 (54).
Taylor was the standout forward with his bag; champagne forward Brad Caldwell had plenty of the ball but missed a number of shots at goal, while Daryl Mayman, Dom Keating and Chris King starred in the midfield.
Best on ground John Cantwell was outstanding in the ruck ensuring his side's engine room of Justin Emery, Craig Mayman and King got first use of the ball.
The Blues dominated the centre clearance count, as they drilled the ball direct into the potent forward line of Rick Galea, Flanagan and Caldwell.
Emery put the Blues on the front foot in the opening minutes, his shot on the run opening the Blues account which was followed by a precession of minor scores.
Caldwell failed to make the most of an errant Glengarry hand pass that fell his way the snap round the body missing to the near side, before a shot hard up against the boundary wobbled past the posts for a behind which was followed by a minor score to Galea.
Glengarry's defence of Dean Pearce, Bruce Waite, Trevor May and Anthony McMahon quickly felt the effects of the Blues quick delivery into their attacking 50 as they looked to contain the onslaught with way ward kicking keeping them in the contest.
A goal to Luke Carpenter broke Rosedale's run of behinds, Flanagan followed suite a strong lead securing the forwards first as the margin blew out to 27 points midway through the term.
The Magpies struggled to clear centre half back, the Blues bottling up play as they forced error after error to draw forward time and time again.
Glengarry won the first centre clearance of the second term as they looked to reel the Blues 31 point quarter time lead in, but it was quickly moved forward through Rosedale's defence of Ben Missen, Scott Johnstone, Ryan Wissmer and Justin Smith with Caldwell slotting through his second.
Rosedale's sixth came through Galea, with the Magpies yet to post a major.
The Blues piled on seven majors to two in the second term, it was a precession of goals before Chris Panayioutou broke through to register Glengarry's first which was followed by Shaun Barnes first of three.
A purple patch late in the first half by the Magpies saw the side attack the man and contain play within their attacking zone, something which they struggled to do throughout the contest.
Down by over nine goals at half time, the Magpies needed to dig deep and start the third term on the front foot.
Glengarry did just that, John Bell set up Barnes on the wing who combined with Jack Robertson to register the sides first of three for the stanza.
But as they had done with ease Rosedale responded, Flanagan, Taylor and Dale Fleming all but burying Glengarry's spirited revival.
The final term was a formality as the Blues doubled Glengarry's score; the Magpies left rueing numerous missed opportunities and poor choices over the course of the afternoon.
Glengarry defender Waite was a tireless figure in defence, Mark Engley worked hard to provide a spark up forward and in the midfield and Panayiotou created pace around the contest.
WEEK THREE FINALS:
PRELIMINARY FINAL -Gormandale V Rosedale, Saturday 4th September, Heyfield
By Lauren Carey
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|