Reigning premiers advance
Reigning premiers Cora Lynn won through to defend their title, with a strong second half setting up their second semi final win over Bunyip, 12-14 (86) to 8-8 (56).
The Bulldogs had entered the match with some confidence, having beaten Cora Lynn quite comfortably early in the season, but will now have to bounce back through the preliminary final to earn another shot at the Cobras for the ultimate prize.
Bunyip matched the Cobras in a tightly contest first half, trailing just three points at half time, but the Cobras flexed their muscle after the break to pull away and take their place in another grand final.
Cora Lynn was the first to go forward in a hotly contested match early. Jason Toan won a free kick for a hold, but his long kick was sprayed wide and out of bounds.
Cora Lynn sharp shooter Anthony Giuliano was gifted the first goal, winning a free kick after a Bunyip player had roared an expletive and slotting the goal.
Bunyip was quick to respond. Nathan Lieshout went long, his snap rolling towards goal with a teammate able to connect in the goal square to level the scores.
Good lead up play from Mitch Davies, Michael Whyte and Michael Laszczyk sent the Bulldogs forward again but the latter just missed the leading player.
Nathan Muratore cleared but the Cobras were denied from a strong defensive mark drifting back with the flight of the ball.
The Cobras went forward again, finding Ryan Gillis a long way from goal, but his pass was spoilt. The Cobras were denied twice more as Bunyip’s defence held firm.
Good lead up work from Justin Markulija, Muratore and Nathan Langley won the Cobras a free kick for holding the ball, but Nathan Gillis’ shot on goal was sprayed out on the full.
Ricky Clark drifted forward for the Cobras and won a free kick for high contact, but his shot missed.
The Cobras had much of the play but had failed to translate it to the scoreboard. They finally broke through for their second major when they hit Giuliano on the lead.
Cora Lynn went forward again but a poor pass from Ryan Gillis allowed the Bulldogs to cut off the attack. Another opportunity went begging with a repeat entry, this time it was Langley missing the target with an errant handball.
Bunyip went forward and almost made the Cobras pay. Taking advantage from a holding the ball free kick, the kick forward sprayed out of bounds with the shot from the boundary throw in missing.
Bunyip’s Brad Walker kicked to Kris Bedford on the lead, but the pass didn’t carry and the Cobras defence cleared to head into quarter time with a narrow lead.
The Bulldogs levelled the scores early in the second term, bombing the ball forward with Bedford rolling through Bunyip’s second goal.
Bunyip went long, only for their entry to be spoilt out of bounds. This time it was Bunyip who was dominating play but couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard.
Jack Blakey snapped a goal to put the Bulldogs ahead and while the bombing long into the forward 50 approach paid off when Mark Johnson kicked off the ground from in the goal square, the Cobras were able to stymie the Bulldogs’ progress by maintaining possession.
A Giuliano snap from the pocket and Ryan Gillis mark from an errant kick in saw Bunyip’s work undone as the Cobras reduced the margin to just three points at the long break.
It was the start of a run of seven consecutive goals either side of the half time break as the Cobras established a five goal lead to take control of the contest.
Ryan Gillis marked and goaled from a Cora Lynn snap forward, Jai Rout snapped truly and Langley converted after a 50-metre penalty as the Cobras surged ahead in the third term. High contact allowed Langley to kick another as the Cobras took a four-goal lead into three-quarter-time.
A running goal to Langley in the opening minute of the final term put paid to the Bulldogs hopes. Bunyip’s attempts to make inroads into the deficit were met with a Cora Lynn response.
Adam Rakip ended the drought for the Bulldogs from a strong mark on the last line, but Gillis responded with a snap from the pocket.
Bedford kicked truly for the Bulldogs, only for Langley to kick his fourth goal at the other end as the Cobras ran out 30-point winners.
Giuliano, who also kicked four majors, assisted Langley up forward. Ruckman David Main was strong around the ground, while Chris McKay, Justin McCleary, Rout and Toan also won plenty of the ball. Muratore again provided good rebound from defence.
Bedford was the Bulldogs’ main target up forward, booting three majors. Zac Vansittart, Whyte, Walker, Davies and Sam O’Sullivan also did their best to create opportunities.