Murchison-Toolamba’s Aaron Miller buried a clutch set shot after the siren to book his side’s spot in the decider.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
There was plenty of hype heading into Saturday’s Kyabram District League senior football first semi-final.
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A mammoth clash between minor premier Murchison-Toolamba and the only side to knock it off all season, second-placed Lancaster, in neutral territory, was a blockbuster on paper.
Boy did the real thing deliver.
Trailing at every break and looking like they would have to qualify for the grand final the long way, it was the Hoppers that pulled one out of the bag, snatching an 8.11 (59) to 8.8 (56) thriller over the Wombats.
It was Lancaster that fired out of the blocks at Longwood Recreation Reserve, perhaps motivated by premiership coach Tom Davies’ 100th game, countering Murchison-Toolamba’s opening goal with the next four of the contest and, while the Hoppers found one late, it was a 14-point lead for the Wombats at quarter-time.
They would find themselves even further in front at the main break after a three-goal-to-two second term, pushing the advantage out to 18 points, which is where things stood at three-quarter time also, after a tense, low-scoring third quarter saw both sides kick 1.3, leaving Lancaster with a 55-37 lead and one term away from a grand final berth.
Lancaster’s Riley O'Neill is hunted down by a flying Andrew Lloyd.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Hoppers Lachy Seddon and Ashton Cashion take Lancaster’s Nicholas Kellow to the ground.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Aaron Miller lays a big tackle.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Lancaster’s Ryan Hatch hunts down a loose ball.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Cameron Simpson fires off a handball for Lancaster.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Murchison-Toolamba’s Alex Tattersall has eyes for the ball.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Murchison-Toolamba’s Joshua Wild is held up by a Lancaster opponent.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Lancaster’s Blake McAuliffe gives his opponent a wry smile.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
But as all good sides do, the Hoppers found another gear with the game on the line.
Six minutes into the final quarter, Murchison-Toolamba found a major to cut the deficit to 12 points and, despite peppering the goal face, it would take another 15 minutes before it found a second, this time cutting the margin back to three points as the clock wound down.
The Wombats found their only score of the quarter soon after, a behind, which was immediately countered by the Hoppers, with no further scores from either side, leaving Lancaster three points up as the final siren sounded.
Enter Aaron Miller.
Lining up for a set-shot after the siren with a spot in the big dance on the line, the Murchison-Toolamba forward was as cold as ice, running in assuredly and kicking truly before being mobbed by teammates, having just punched the Hoppers’ grand final ticket.
It was a cruel finish for Lancaster, which faltered in the final term, having led all afternoon, but the season isn’t over for the Wombats, with this weekend’s preliminary final providing another avenue to the final game of the season.
The Wombats will be taking on Rushworth for a grand final berth after the Tigers prevailed against Nagambie in an absolute barnstormer at Stanhope Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
Featuring a lead change at every break, the Tigers led by two points at half-time before finding themselves 12 points in arrears at three-quarter time.
But it mattered little, as Rushworth kept the Lakers to two points in the final term, while booting 3.2 to clinch a nail-biting 9.12 (66) to 9.11 (65) victory, keeping the fairytale run alive.
They will square off against the Wombats on Saturday at Central Park Recreation Reserve to determine who will face Murchison-Toolamba in the decider.
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