LAKERS SURVIVE EAGLES, WARRIORS EXTEND SEASON
By Connor Pain |
Caroline Springs survived an almighty comeback from Yarraville Seddon, escaping with a one-point victory in the Qualifying Final to be just one win away from a grand final berth.
With conditions at Williamstown’s DSV Stadium hampered all afternoon by rain and wind, scoring was at a premium with neither side reaching double digit points until the second quarter.
The Lakers were the better of the sides at taking the limited chances available, however the low scoring affair was separated by just one goal at the main break.
Yarraville Seddon’s wayward kicking began to creep in after the half as they just couldn’t convert in front of goal. They managed four behinds in the third to Caroline Springs’ three goals, with the Lakers appearing to have one foot in the Second Semi-Final.
It looked all but over when the Lakers’ lead stretched further in the last, but the Eagles weren’t down and out.
Four goals and another three behinds almost completed the miraculous comeback for Yarraville Seddon, but it wasn’t to be. They cut the margin down to eight points, then two and finally one, but ultimately fell just short with the final score 7.6 (48) to 6.11 (47).
It will now be Caroline Springs facing minor premiers Werribee Districts with a spot in the Grand Final up for grabs.
Hoppers Crossing romped to a 79-point triumph against Altona, setting up a fascinating Semi Final clash with Yarraville Seddon.
The Warriors started slowly offensively with just two goals in the first quarter, but its defence was turned up to 11 from the opening bounce.
Ashlin Brown, Braden Ferrari and Nic Poland were brilliant from the outset as the Warriors kept the Vikings goalless in the opening stanza while conceding just one major in each of the next three terms.
With Hoppers Crossing dominating after the first break the game was all but over by halftime with the lower ranked side up by 41 points.
Riley Fisher and Ryan Kitchen each booted three goals as 10 Warriors hit the scoreboard on their way to the 15.14 (104) to 3.7 (25) win.
The loss was a disappointing end to an encouraging season for the Vikings having taken steps forward in their rebuild under Travis Varcoe.
Yarraville Seddon will likely enter this weekend’s clash against Hoppers Crossing as favourites, but the Warriors are in red hot form and have the talent to trouble the remaining teams on their day.
In Division 1 Reserves Yarraville Seddon were Qualifying Final victors with a 14-point win over Spotswood while Caroline Springs got over Hoppers Crossing by just four points in the Elimination Final.
Meanwhile, Werribee Districts came from 23 points down at halftime to defeat Newport by seven points in the Division 1 U18s Qualifying Final and Point Cook extended their season with a comfortable Elimination Final win against Altona.
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