PUT simply, Saturday’s qualifying final was the one that got away for Whittlesea at Lalor Reserve.
Sitting pretty and leading by 51 points in time on of the second quarter, the Eagles looked home and hosed and ready for a second semi-final match up with Diamond Creek.
However, a series of key positional moves after that from the Kangaroos meant that one of the biggest finals comebacks in the history of the Northern Football Netball League was on.
Whittlesea got off to a good start with a swirly breeze, kicking the first three goals of the afternoon. Blake Watson, in particular, was looking dangerous, kicking two goals, and while Macleod fashioned three of the next four goals, it was a six-point lead to the Eagles at the first change, 28-22.
The second quarter saw the Eagles enjoy two devastating bursts which gave them a comfortable buffer.
Three goals in the first five minutes gave the Eagles a four-goal buffer, which was soon increased midway through the term as the Eagles scored another three goals in three minutes.
With Watson and Jaron Murphy kicking three goals apiece, and Khaled El-Leissy getting in on the act at the 22-minute mark, the Eagles were 51 points to the good.
Almost immediately, however, Macleod had a response and kicked the final two goals of the term to give itself the slightest of heartbeats, trailing 36-75.
Macleod’s big move was sending ex-AFL player Michael Hurley to the backline, allowing for a more streamlined forward unit headlined by Darcy Barden, and he kicked the first goal to get the Kangaroos back into the game.
His teammates lifted around him, and four of the next five goals was just the tonic for the Kangaroos, the streak only broken by an Angus Smith goal, which allowed Whittlesea to still hold an 11-point lead at the final change, 81-70.
The final quarter was a beauty. Macleod, with goals from Jack Medley and Barden, hit the front, but Whittlesea weren’t ready to lie down, and kicked three of the next four goals, with Paul Higgins bobbing up for two crucial goals, to get out to a 12-point break.
Macleod, however, was not done, and after a Luke Joyce goal reduced the margin to a goal, Barden lifted to take a spectacular mark to kick the winning goal and break Whittlesea hearts in the process, with the Kangaroos winning 15.13 (103) to 15.11 (101) in a classic.
Despite the loss, Watson and Murphy were superb for the Eagles, especially in the first half when both gave them an enormous boost. Mitchell Andrews, El-Leissy, Clancy Bland and Taidhg Bland were also excellent in what was a high-quality game.
For all that, the Eagles have to rebound next Sunday, as they return to Lalor Reserve to take on St Mary’s, who were winners in the elimination final.
It was better news for Whittlesea’s reserves, however, as it won by 10 points over Macleod to book a meeting with Diamond Creek for the first spot in the grand final.
Whittlesea’s under 19s were also victorious, winning a thrilling qualifying final by three points over North Heidelberg, and securing an opportunity to play for a spot in the grand final against South Morang.
Joining the Eagles in the second week will be Laurimar, who disposed of Mernda by 117 points in the elimination final.
Laurimar’s reserves have joined its senior team in the grand final after a tight second semi-final battle with Ivanhoe.
Scores were level at three-quarter-time, but the Power did enough in the final term to win by nine points.
In division one, South Morang’s final game in the division showed what might have been, after taking over in the final quarter to defeat Eltham.
The Lions trailed for the majority of the day, but three goals to one in the final term meant they took a 12-point win, 11.11 (77) to 9.11 (65).
Lucas Yacoub, Nathan Stefanile, Joshua D’Intonosante, Bailey Brown, Tye Hall and Kain Hall were all in the best for the Lions.
In the Friday night netball competition, Whittlesea’s final game before finals was not ideal, as it went down to North Heidelberg 73-28.
It was better news for the Eagles’ second team in division three, defeating South Morang 44-36.
Whittlesea’s division eight team stayed alive as it beat Epping 19-16 in the first semi-final, while Laurimar will have two teams competing in preliminary finals, despite different results. In division nine, the Power lost 17-23 to Hurstbridge, while the division 12 team won 36-26 over Watsonia.
South Morang will have one team in the preliminary final, with its division 14 team taking a 25-23 win over Heat in the first semi-final.
