Blockbuster semi’s hit the Goon

NAR NAR GOON Recreation Reserve was where the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) contiued its footy finals series last Saturday with a blockbuster group of Semi Finals. 

In a group of games between the teams that finished first and second on their respective ladders, it was all on the line as the winner’s earned direct entry to the 2023 Grand Final and the losers were sent down to the Preliminary Finals, to be played this weekend. 

Kicking off the dew and starting the day was Phillip Island and Warragul in the under 16s division, and a strong second half from the favoured Bulldogs side proved enough for them to hold on to a 23-point win. 

The victors were superb moving the ball around the ground and using it with that Island flair, behind some great performances from Charlie O’Garey, Yianni Caffieri and three goals to Cooper Walton. 

The boys in red, white and blue saw themselves into the decider, while the Dusties youngsters, led by Jarrod West, Joshua Bradley and Thomas Cornwall’s four majors, live to fight another day in the Prelim.  

Next up, it was the 2022 Grand Final rematch in the under 18s, between the reigning premiers Inverloch-Kongwak, and the battlers Garfield. 

The Sea Eagles were tremendous in the end, seeing off a brave early showing from the Stars and showcasing their far superior level of skill, moving the ball with great precision and pace from defence, changing angles and rewarding themselves for the mammoth tackling pressure.

Unfortunately, though, they were unable to finish their work, as spearhead Jai Williamson missed numerous chances in what was a dominant performance at centre half forward. 

This held the boys in green and gold in it at the final change, just trailing by 16-points but the Sea Eagles role players stood tall, giving them contributions from their full 22 to close out a famous win even after some late game spot-fires. 

Jordan Bertacco was impressive around the ground asserting his strength alongside Harry Butcher and young gun Jasper Cousins as the minor premiers booked their spot in the Grand Final.

The Stars did what they could but it was not their day, getting outplayed across the ground, Kain O’Dwyer, Ben Tenace-Greenall and Theo Zaccari were brave in the loss though.

Following the Sea Eagles masterclass was an action-packed reserves contest between Tooradin-Dalmore and the hometown Nar Nar Goon. 

In what was a messy and low scoring first half, as the hosts used their ground to perfection, holding at least a two kick lead for the first half.

Things got a bit tighter in the third as the premiership pedigree of the reigning premier Seagulls began to shine through, neatening up the scores at the final break, just trailing by three points.

Led by Brett Coffey, the ‘Gulls sparked a spirited comeback in the final term, booting two goals to the Goon’s one and finding themselves in a spectacular but familiar position as the seconds ticked down. 54-point win.

With barely seconds on the clock, the men in red and green found a mark right on the paint of their forward 50, diving to the deck and then… drama reigned surpreme, a 50 metre penalty was awarded, siren sounded…

The Seagulls kicked truly to win yet another final after the siren and send themselves into another Grand Final. 

Timothy Lenders, Michael Hobbs and Shannon Campbell with three goals were all terrific, while Luke Dortmans, Jarrod Hamling and Cooper Pursell with two majors of his own were solid for the Goon.

Saturday’s finale was the game of the day though, as the first placed Inverloch-Kongwak took on the second placed Phillip Island in a rematch of their thrilling round 18 draw. 

The match started hot, with both sides wanting to spread the incredibly wide Nar Nar Goon deck and move the ball with pace and precision, because of this, it pinged from end to end in the opening term.

The Sea Eagles built on their four point quarter time lead to increase it to 10 at half time, but they did not look like they were convincing anyone they were breaking away. 

The third term was a true old fashioned battle in the heat as the sun beamed down on a bumper 2,400 strong crowd at the Goon.

The minor premiers found their groove though and slammed on four goals to three to increase their lead to 19-points at the final change and then early in the fourth, to 26-points. 

Amazingly, this was not enough of a buffer to keep Cameron Pedersen down, as he began to break the final quarter apart, kicking a huge goal and providing a problem for the IK backs. 

Three straight majors to the Islanders had the game on a knife’s edge… 

Enter Billy Taylor, the livewire forward/midfielder found the ball just inside 50 one a deep angle, with a kick to tie the scores, and with barely moments left, he did just that, locking it up at 80 apiece with a Grand Final spot on the line. 

Marcus Toussaint, who’d battled brilliantly with Pedersen and Daniel Bourke all day in the ruck, soon brought himself into the game helping the ball into the IK forward half, before Will Turner went to work. 

The Sea Eagles under 18s captain won a crucial one-on-three contest on the wing and soon the ball was inside IK’s attacking arc, barely a minute on the clock, stoppages were in great abundance, as were the players, nearly all 36 within the 50.

Then, out of nothing in the middle of the pack, Turner found the footy and handed it to Andrew Soumilas whose quick snap out of the pack drifted straight through the middle of the big sticks.

But wait… more drama was to ensue, with the umpires coming together at the goal line… one behind!

The Dogs had one last chance, quickly moving it to the raking left boot of Kai McKenzie who was run down after taking about 30 metres, by none other than Taite Cumming, sealing the win for IK, and a best on ground performance for himself, after he lit up the first half with two majors and some amazing, contested marks. 

The two juggernauts of the WGFNC have now only been split by one point in the last two meetings and are likely to meet again if Phillip Island can claim victory in this week’s Preliminary Final.