AN Austin Hogan goal with five minutes left in the match secured Nullawil’s place in the Golden Rivers Football League preliminary final, held at Wakool.
The Maroons prevailed by one point against a gallant Wandella outfit that fought back from trailing by 19 points during the second quarter to lead early in the final term.
Nullawil was down to no fit players on the interchange bench during the match, with Brett Barker (broken arm), Brad Murray and Matt Harrop all succumbing to injury as the match progressed.
The Bombers – who progressed to the finals after results went the club’s way seven days prior – hit the lead early, but Kal Heslop, who finished with three goals for the victors, helped to level the scores at quarter time.
Both clubs’ ability to play a zone defence kept scoring low during the opening term, with Jordan Matthews and Kyle Doran leading the way for Nullawil and Brodey Farley and Tim Robinson standing tall for Wandella.
Daniel Watts – who returned to the side following injury – gave the Maroons the lead early in the second term thanks to a long-range goal, with the run of Grant Ford and Royce Free giving Nullawil the chance to get on top of the match.
Wandella coach, Paul Grayling – who was being well contained by Jarrod Kemp – kicked truly before the main break keep the deficit to 19 points at the main break, with the former competition leaders still capable of producing the win.
Daniel Baker and Justin Wilson lifted the intensity in the third quarter as Wandella began to claw back the ascendency.
Heslop kicked the Maroons’ sole goal of the term, enabling the side to lead by five points with one term to play.
Wilson’s second goals of the match, booted early in the last term, gave the Bombers the lead, with the ascendency going Wandella’s way.
However, the momentum turned again, with Nullawil wasted some chances missing crucial set shots to level the scores, before Hogan pounced on a throw-in 15 metres out and kicked the Maroons into the lead.
Matthews and Scott Mathiske were best on ground for Nullawil, with Wilson and Robinson – who battled all day against Maroons’ forward, Andrew Oberdorfer – playing well for the Bombers.
The win secures a preliminary final spot for the Maroons – the club’s third in the past four years – with the side to take on the loser of this weekend’s second semi-final between Ultima and Murrabit.
Accuracy helps victors
AN accurate display in front of goal helped Nullawil book a spot in the Golden Rivers Football League reserves final.
The Maroons – despite registering six less scoring shots – defeated Ultima by four points in Saturday’s first semi-final.
The ‘Roos had the chance to reclaim the lead in the final two minutes, but a wayward shot at goal from 20 metres out ended the club’s finals campaign.
Ultima held a four-point lead at the first break, which Nullawil turned into a two-point advantage at the main break.
The Maroons extended the margin to eight points at three-quarter time, before being challenged in the final term.
Heath Pollington kicked three goals for the victors, with Adam Hunter booting the same number of majors for the ‘Roos.
Aidan McGrath and Nathan Witherow were best on ground for Nullawil, with Lachlan Paull and Kaine O’Connell playing well for Ultima.
Defence on track
MACORNA’S goal to defend its under 17.5 premiership will extend to the preliminary final after the Tigers defeated Nullawil by 18 points in Saturday’s first semi-final.
Led by two goals from Matthew Farrell, the Tigers kept the Maroons goalless in the final term to turn a four-point deficit at the final break into a key win.
Nullawil led at every break, with the margin being two points at quarter time and three points at half-time.
The Maroons’ goals came from single goalkickers, with only eight goals kicked in the match.
Brady Taylor and Liam Ayre were best on ground for Macorna, with Zac Kelly and Jordan Sheahan playing well for Nullawil.
‘Roos run down Maroons
ULTIMA kicked the only three goals of the second half to defeat Nullawil by 13 points in Saturday’s first semi-final.
Angus Forester kicked the only goal of the first quarter, with Nullawil lesson by seven points at quarter time and at the main break.
The ‘Roos register their first score in the third quarter and hit the lead late in the term, holding a six-point lead at the final break.
A third goal of the match in the final quarter secured Ultima’s progression to the preliminary final.
Corey Grey and Angus Hinton were best on ground for the ‘Roos, with Jordan Humphreys and Forrester playing well for Nullawil.
