Saints atone for old sins

GFL SECOND SEMI

THERE’S a new premiership favourite in town.

Proving last week’s smashing of Bell Park was no false dawn, St Mary’s put previously unbeaten St Joseph’s to the sword on Saturday, booking a grand final berth with a shock 41-point win, 18.8 (116) to 11.10 (76).

In truth, the final margin flattered St Joseph’s as St Mary’s led by as much as 70 points nearing three-quarter-time. Across every line, the Saints were utterly dominant, moving the ball at pace by hand and foot.

The performance left St Mary’s captain Jacob Welsh in no doubt that his side’s best football was good enough to go one better than it did in last year’s grand final.

“We knew if we got our running game going early, we were going to be hard to stop, and for the first three quarters we stuck to our plan,” he said. “We’ve all had belief that if we stick to the game plan for four quarters then we’re a big chance to go places. We knew if we used the space well, we were a good shot.”

St Mary’s jumped Joeys early, racing to a five-goal lead at the 22minute mark of the first term before St Joseph’s had even registered a single score.

But a second-quarter blitz cemented the result, with the Saints kicking six unanswered goals after Jacko Davis’ goal in the first minute of the term.

Sam Dobson booted two of his five majors in that period, while Tom Gillies’ one-on-one domination of veteran Ben Capra forced St Joseph’s to shift him forward after half-time.

The Saints’ run, spread and ball use left Joeys with no answer, and Welsh believes his side’s game plan holds the young group in good stead heading into the grand final.

“Towards the end we went away from that and started to kick down the line, which suited Joeys a lot more with their bigger bodies, but for three quarters we were very good,” Welsh said.

“Some of our young kids are unbelievable. Just the way they work to the space and run hard and use the ball is amazing.”

The midfield brigade of Welsh, Jarryd Garner and Zak Sherman smashed Joeys in the clearances, while Darby Hider received a special mention for his close attention of Joeys goal sneak Jacko McLachlan.

All of that leaves Welsh is jumping at the chance to atone for last year.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “Obviously last year was horrible, but it’s great to be back there and hopefully there will be a better result.”