Nar Nar Goon still alive against the odds
Nar Nar Goon continued their run against the odds to claim a thrilling first semi final by a solitary point in a match that well and truly had it all.
Having not been expected to advance further that the first week of finals, the sixth-placed Goon again pulled out all the stops to score over Koo wee rup in a cliffhanger, 7-8 (50) to 7-7 (49) to advance to the preliminary final against the odds.
Koo wee rup dominated play for much of the first quarter but failed to capitalise on the scoreboard. The Demons were first to work the ball forward on the outer side and centre inside, but only Nar Nar Goon defenders were home.
The Demons went wide on their approach again, finding Mitchell Collins who took a strong mark in the pocket, but his attempt to square up was cut off by Shannon Stocco.
Koo wee rup won a free kick for high contact on the wing, but again had their approach cut off by Stocco.
Scott Houghton took a strong mark on the wing to send the Demons forward again, but the shot from Robert Beswick hit the outer post.
The Demons finally converted when Daniel Calteri kicked truly after marking on the lead.
Beswick went long to set up another opportunity, but with Collins opposed to two a ball up was forced and the Goon were able to clear.
The Goon worked the ball from the wing to score their first to cut the margin back to one point.
Koo wee rup responded with another goal and a repeat entry set up Bailey Galante, who goaled after winning a free kick for a hold.
A goal on the siren saw the Goon cut the margin back to sixpoints.
Bailey Beck found Matthew Stevens on the lead, but his shot sprayed out on the full.
Collins marked and goaled at the other end to extend the lead. The Goon hit back through a long goal from coach Kris Fletcher before high contact on Jake Rose cut the gap to just two points.
Lachlan Walden was sent from the ground with a yellow card and Goon looked to take the advantage, but injuries began to hit with play held up several times.
Nar Nar Goon’s captain re-injured his shoulder from the win over Neerim-Neerim South the previous week. While the stretcher wasn’t used in this instance, it would be the first of four occasions that it would be called for during the match.
Beck went to the top of the square, but the forwards flew too early and the Demons were able to clear.
Still holding a numbers advantage, Fletcher broke away from a boundary throw in to find Luke McConnell, who won a free kick for high contact.
The stretcher was soon out again as McConnell strained to make the long kick. While the ball sailed through for a goal to put Goon in front, it was bittersweet for Goon as McConnell limped from the ground after injuring his hamstring in the process.
Emotions ran high again early in the third term, the stretcher making yet another appearance with Koo wee rup ruckman Houghton lying motionless after landing head first in a tackle.
The Demons responded on the scoreboard, scoring a goal over the back to hit the front.
Koo wee rup won a free kick after some niggle before a boundary throw in, with Collins taking a strong mark to goal and extend the lead.
A Nar Nar Goon player led wide and converted a good goal to close the gap to five points at the final change.
The Goon edged closer with a string of behinds before Stevens scrambled a goal mid way through the final term to bring the home crowd to life.
The sides traded behinds in an exciting finish, with a late miss costly for the Demons. Walden had re-entered the fray and won a free kick for holding the ball. He went long to Collins, who dished off to Steven Greaves but his running shot from half forward drifted across the face.
The Demons went forward again but time ran out, the Goon clearing from defence and siren sounded as players battled for the ball on Koo wee rup’s forward line with the Goon up by one point.