NORTH FOOTSCRAY ADVANCES TO GRAND FINAL
North Footscray is the first team into this year’s Division 2 Senior Men’s Grand Final after a thrilling three-point Second Semi Final victory over Wyndhamvale on Saturday.
The Devils led only twice in the lower scoring affair at Yarraville Oval, early in the third term and late in the final quarter as emerging forward Barny Sianos kicked what proved to be the match-winner with just minutes remaining.
Wyndhamvale was left to rue missed opportunities in the 5.5 (35) to 3.14 (32) loss, but the minor premiers will have another chance this weekend to secure a spot in this season’s decider.
The Falcons held a slight edge at both quarter time and halftime despite kicking just one goal across the opening two terms and when both teams managed two majors each in the third the game remained tight going into the last.
Wyndhamvale dominated territory in the initial stages of the fourth thanks to Kai Capovilla and captains Cameron Morrison and Liam Scarborough but couldn’t capitialise on the scoreboard with the North Foostcray defence continuing to stand tall.
The attacking momentum eventually shifted in favour of the Devils and after repeat inside 50 entries they finally got their reward with a go-ahead goal when Sianos converted from beyond the arc at the 24-minute mark.
From there they would hold on to secure their first Grand Final appearance since 2017 when they went on to beat Yarraville Seddon in the final match of the year.
The Devils now hold a 2-1 head-to-head record over Wyndhamvale this season having won their past two encounters, the weekend’s triumph coming after a 22-point win in Round 11.
Sianos and vice-captain Jarrod Spry were North Foostcray’s best with Sianos registered multiple goals against the Falcons for the third time this year as he finished with three of the Devils’ five majors.
Like Sianos, Spry also had a major influence late, contributing both offensively and defensively.
Meanwhile, North Foostcray’s opponent from opening week of finals West Foostcray will face Wyndhamvale in the Preliminary Final this Saturday after overcoming Suns on Sunday.
Matthew Turcinovich starred with eight goals in the knock-out Semi Final helping the Roosters come from behind to record a 14.18 (102) to 12.12 (84) win.
The Suns kicked the first three goals of the game and led by 17 points four minutes into the second quarter as Matthew Wright and Daniel O’Leary fired early.
Three of the next four goals in the opening half would come from the boot of Turcinovich as he added to his opening quarter major, with a 10-point deficit for West Footscray reduced to four points at the main break.
The Roosters leader then put his side ahead for the first time six minutes into the third term when he booted his fifth goal of the day, with a further two Turcinovich scores and a Jai Haines goal giving West Footscray an 11-point advantage at the final change.
The Suns reduced the margin to a single kick 10 minutes into the fourth, but Henry Lovell and Dylan Appleby stepped up and a run of four goals all but secured the result for the Roosters before the Suns kicked the last three majors.
North Foostcray will be joined by its Reserves on Grand Final Day as the Devils beat minor premiers Wyndhamvale on the same day as their Seniors, with the Falcons now set to face Albanvale in the Preliminary Final after the Cobras upset West Footscray.
However, West Foostcray is through to the Division 2 Under 18s decider after the Roosters eased past Laverton/Manor Lakes with their Preliminary Final opponent to be Point Cook Centrals following a nine-point win by the Sharks over Newport.