Grand Final – Reserves v Scoresby
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For the first time this season, we went into a game with an unchanged line-up and while a couple of boys were slightly stiff not to be included, this group showed last week that it is united and peaking in form at the right end of the year.
Another typical September Saturday greeted the teams with a slight breeze favouring the Mountain Highway end. Faced with the challenge of a very good Scoresby team who had remained unbeaten to this point, a positive start was crucial and emphasised by the Coach during the week. The boys did not let Glenn down and with Farmer absolutely on fire on his wing, we stormed forward a number of times (12) and it was only inaccuracy that prevented a better return than our 4-5. Farmer’s 2 and Millard’s 1 goal set us going while at the other end, Strawhorn led a determined defensive unit which kept the clamps on the dangerous Magpie forwards holding them to just 1-0 from 9 excursions forward. Wingmen Farmer and H.Phaedonos played beautifully to instruction holding their positions and racking up possessions both ways in this term.
Quarter-Time: East Ringwood 4-5-29 led Scoresby 1-0-6
The Magpies showed that they were not the top team by some stroke of luck in this term as they got on top in centre clearances and matched us in contested footy. The Roos were able to better them at around the ground stoppages however, but it was our defensive six that absorbed an enormous amount of pressure and while we were a little rushed with our possessions at times, Strawhorn, Russell, Hoare, Coad, Varney, and Thompson were magnificent in 20 minutes of sustained pressure. They penetrated the arc 14 times for 3-4 while we were able to snag 1-1 from only 5 forward excursions. Once again, it was the mercurial Farmer who booted a valuable 3rd major and we went to the main break holding a 7 point advantage.
Half-Time: East Ringwood 5-5-35 led Scoresby 4-4-28
With one more opportunity on the breeze, the intensity went up considerably as Scoresby lifted their run noticeably all over the ground. The Roos boys continued to take the game on however, and with E.Phaedonos, Blaha, Farmer, Russell and Carroll in everything, we won the contested possession count and lifted our tackling to force a number of turnovers. The Roos had opened a 3 goal margin as the Magpies continued to surge going forward 18 times into the breeze and scoring 3-2 while near the end of the term, we booted 4 straight behinds from gettable shots to go to the final change with a lead of only 11 points instead of the 4 goal margin that we were hoping for. Again our defensive unit held firm but would we be able to hold off the fresher legs of the Magpies who would finish with the breeze?
Three-quarter-time: East Ringwood 8-11-59 led Scoresby 7-6-48
The final term was an absolute nail-biter with Scoresby booting the first major to close the gap to less than a goal early. The Roos boys, to their credit, continued to take the game on into the breeze and we snagged one back when Ekers’ set-shot hit the man on the mark and skewed to Millard who spun past 2 opponents to snap a crucial goal. The Magpies hit back and their goal was matched by one of our own. Again, the defence was under extreme pressure as they went forward 14 times to our 7 but they had resorted to bombing the ball in making our job just a little easier. Our boys continued to bravely take the game on but with about 90 seconds to play, the Magpies goaled to cut the margin to 4 points as heart-rates rose around Bayswater Oval. The final centre clearance went their way and in a flurry of arms and legs, it was a desperate E.Phaedonos who threw himself on the ball in their goal-square to force a ball-up. Our worry that one of our boys might punch the ball through and concede a free-kick was allayed when the siren apparently sounded (we didn’t hear it) before the ball was bounced to have East Ringwood in front by 4 points and a fantastic game of footy. The young Roos had knocked over the previously unbeaten Scoresby to win the flag coming from 3rd spot and having to play 4 consecutive finals games at Bayswater Oval. For a team that “doesn’t rotate much” and was expected to ‘run out of legs’, our boys showed what team spirit, belief and courage can produce.
Commiserations to Scoresby who must have felt devastation after a brilliant year to be denied the prize at the final hurdle and congratulations to them also on the spirit in which this game was played. Our boys were never headed and deserve all of the accolades that were heaped on them after the game. 13 of the winning team are Under 20 years of age which is cause for real optimism for future senior success and the vast majority have come through our junior system. Congratulations to Glenn, Kevin and Ross for a terrific coaching performance and success well deserved.
Final Score: East Ringwood 10-13-73 defeated Scoresby 10-9-69
Best: Farmer, Strawhorn, E.Phaedonos, Varney, Hoare, Blaha. (and 18 others!)
Goals: Farmer 3, Millard 2, E.Phaedonos 2, Werts
Go Roos.
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