By Richard Jones

 

COLBINABBIN set up a Heathcote League grand final spot with an emphatic first three quarters against Mount Pleasant at Lockington on Saturday.

 

The Grasshoppers controlled the HDFL preliminary final by restricting Mounts to just five goals for three quarters while snaring 15 of their own.

 

Colbinabbin’s Linton Jacobs, coach Damien Lock, Brent Millar and Lucas Hill just had too much run and carry ability for the leadfooted Mounts in the first half.

 

With Sam Hill in charge of the half-forward line and Jacobs booting three goals in the opening term it looked how far the Grasshoppers at the last change.

 

But to their credit Mounts fought back with a last term which yielded 8.7 to narrow the final margin to 24 points.

 

Denis Ryan and Matt Johnson kicked two goals apiece as the Navy Blues took full toll on the tiring Grasshoppers.

 

Final scores: Colbinabbin 18.10 (118) d Mount Pleasant 13.16 (94).

 

On a sunny, autumn afternoon Colbinabbin booted the opening two goals of the preliminary final. Lock took three bounces and booted one of those goals at the town end --- an ominous sign for Mount Pleasant.

 

Mounts’ Dennis Ryan marked on a strong lead and converted from straight in front at the scoreboard end. But following two Colbo majors in reply, Mounts’ coach Cameron Carter threw Ryan into a midfield role while moving to full-forward himself.

 

Jacobs was dynamic bursting into the clear and bouncing his way through the lines and when Seth Hill drove Colbinabbin into attack his little on-ball teammate banged home another major.

The worry for Colbinabbin was the report of Jacob Weppner for allegedly striking Mounts’ Brad Shepherd during that first quarter.

 

The margin widened in an eventful second quarter. Sam Hill kicked two of his four goals for the day as he steered his kicks home.

 

Big Danny Irwin collected the spillage just outside the goal square and screwed a shot around the corner as Mounts were left in Colbinabbin’s wake.

 

Matt Pinniger constantly mopped up across the full-back line for the Grasshoppers and with Tim Hill also busy in defence their side went into the half-time break seven goals up.

 

Again Colbinabbin dictated proceedings as the third quarter got going. Even though Luke Bennett and Matt Johnson tried to lift Mounts with important goals Irwin replied with a set shot from centre half-forward for the Grasshoppers.

 

The marking strength of Rod Doak and Sam Hill in the front half bothered Mounts and by the last change Colbinabbin had surged out to a 58-point lead.

 

Mount Pleasant ran out the game as they peppered the town end goals. Johnson, Peter Krueger and Ryan all booted six pointers, but even though he took the mark-of-the-day in the forward pocket, pavilion side, it took Ryan three attempts to nail his goal.

 

Colbinabbin appeared to have no petrol left as the Navy Blues kept on attacking and the Grasshoppers definitely needed the steadiers supplied by Julian Bull and Blair McCormick.

Colbo coach Damien Lock said he was glad to get away with the win. “We had a good break at three-quarter-time and probably took our foot off the pedal.

 

“Mounts are a proud club and they kept on coming. So we were just happy to get away with the win in the end,” he said.

 

Lock said after the second semi-final Colbinabbin had sustained three or four injuries, so he hoped those players would be ready for selection for Saturday’s grand final showdown against Elmore at Toolleen.

 

Mounts’ coach Cam Carter praised the efforts of his players to run the game right out with their eight-goal last quarter.

 

“You don’t like to blame injuries but we’ve had one of those years. Even today we had a late replacement -- Luke Freeman out, Shaun O’Brien in.

 

“Even so, had we been three or four goals closer at three-quarter time it might have been different. Who knows ? Then again, that’s the third time in a row they’ve jumped us which is really disappointing.”

 

COLBINABBIN          6.4          10.6          15.7           18.10 (118)

MOUNT PLEASANT   2.3             3.6            5.9           13.16 (94)

 

GOALS – Colbinabbin Sam Hill 4, Linton Jacobs 3, Daniel Irwin 2, Brent Millar 2, Damien Lock, Blair McCormick, Julian Bull, Cameron Ladd, Scott Dishon, Rod Doak, Tim Croft. Mount Pleasant: Matt Johnson 3, Dennis Ryan 3, Luke Bennett 2, Shaun O’Brien, Paul Nihill, Peter Krueger, Zac East, Trevor Douglas.

BEST – Colbinabbin: Matt Pinniger, Linton Jacobs, Thomas Hill, Lucas Hill, Tim Hill, Tim Croft. Mount Pleasant: Matt Johnson, Chris Black, Jamie Gee, Daniel O’Connell, Nathan Byrne, Jess O’Brien.