Desperate Demons come from behind to knock out Hill End
As exciting as finals football is, the reality is it can also be very cruel.
Sides that prepared since last year, approached the early months of this year with hope rather than any real confidence the season would actually proceed, and then fought their way through such an even competition with pressure on a week-to-week basis, were finally “rewarded” with a challenge that offered no second chances.
With the pressure intensifying, only one side from each of the elimination finals had the opportunity to go one week further.
Elimination final (3rd v 6th): Foster v Yinnar at MDU
It has been somewhat contrasting seasons for these two clubs.
Yinnar started and stopped throughout much of the season; one week showing all the signs of a top of the table side, followed by another where winnable games were lost.
They lined up against a Foster side that, for various reasons, had struggled with player availability early before some strong recruiting and a stable 18 meant the Tigers had finished the season strong.
All of that said, it all came down to three hours on Saturday afternoon to determine which club’s season would end and which would step closer to a grand final berth.
Both clubs were deserving. But, with only room for one, the stakes were high and the close result was one that finally fell the way of the Magpies, 7.8-50 to Foster’s 6.7-43.
Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor was proud of his team’s efforts, believing they were the better team for the majority of the day and should have been further in front early in proceedings.
“What a game, finals footy at its best,” Taylor said. “Two contested ball teams going at it all day, with no easy possession to be had.”
“To Foster’s credit, they threw everything at us.
“When they hit the front in the last, I thought we were in trouble. To my boys’ credit, they managed to wrestle back the momentum and to kick the last two goals of the game was a massive effort.”
“I’m just really proud of the boys,” Taylor added. “We’ve lost six games this year by under 12 points, so to fight our way back late in an elimination final was absolutely huge. It’s character building and has given the group a lot of belief.”
Taylor said all 21 players contributed but thought two players were particularly outstanding.
“There’s been a lot of talk about the Foster forwards, but I thought Brendan Chapman in his 200th senior game for our club did an outstanding job on (Michael) Cooke and, for me, was the best player on the ground,” Taylor said. “Jack Deen also played his usual selfless role and did an outstanding job down back on (Tom) Bartholomew, which went along way to securing the win.”
It was, without question, the type of performance that will give the Magpies belief they are both capable and deserving of the next challenge.
Foster coach Sam Davies said Yinnar was the only team he didn’t want to play, “and today showed why”.
“We were just beaten in a few key areas over the day,” Davies said. “We made errors at critical times, and didn’t utilise the opportunities we had going forward.”
After stealing a spot in the league’s top six, Yinnar are now down to the last four with momentum starting to build at just the right time.
Elimination final (4th v 5th) Boolarra v Hill End at Thorpdale
For the neutral supporter, it was hard not to feel torn as to which team to throw your support behind on Sunday.
This was especially true given the paths that led each club to this fork in the road. Boolarra, after many seasons towards the bottom of the table, were looking for their first premiership in more than a decade.
They were competing against a team whose last premiership was more than four decades ago and who had their latest chance just last season cut short by the cruel curse of COVID.
In finals, there is little room for empathy. Rewards often favour the brave, the disciplined, the desperate and, in some cases, the lucky.
In this case, it was bravery by the Demons who fought from behind to win by three goals, 8.6-54 to Hill End’s 5.636.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said it was a great win for the club and the boys after a slow start.
“Hill End were playing all over us,” Giardina said. “After half-time, the boys lifted their game and came home really strong, especially being a few players down and losing a few more during the game.”
The win showcased all the elements of a side desperate not to waste the opportunity. The Demons, against quality opposition, found a way to win. In doing so, they denied a long-held dream for the Rovers and coach Mike Santo.
“We were in control of the game at half-time,” Santo reflected. “To Boolara’s credit, they stuck to their game plan and simply wanted it more than we did.”
“Credit to Tony and Boolara on a great win, I wish them all the best next week. Their players handled themselves with class after the game, which didn’t go unnoticed.”
“Unfortunately a few of their spectators and supporters weren’t as gracious with the victory, which was disappointing, but that’s country footy,” Santo added.
Looking ahead, Santo said “we will look to grow from this and bolster our squad and improve on some deficiencies, both playing and coaching wise.”
The pressure of finals football can do all sorts of things to players and teams when the spotlight shines on them.
Boolarra, like their next opponent Yinnar, have shown, they’re no “rabbits in headlights”. They want to go all the way.