THERE was September heartbreak for both Laurimar and South Morang on the weekend as both teams fell desperately short in its respective division.
Laurimar played off in the Northern Football Netball League division 3 grand final against an undefeated Ivanhoe, coming in as an outsider after losing by 34 points just two weeks ago.
In that game, the Power was shocked, conceding seven goals in the opening 10 minutes. However, this time around, utilising a heavy breeze at Lalor Reserve, it was the Power who got off to a bright start.
Goals to Joel Lawson, Bailey Macleod and Patrick Fitzgerald meant the Power had three goals in the first 11 minutes and looked threatening every time they went forward.
However, Ivanhoe slowly got into the game, and damage control ensured Laurimar wouldn’t kick another goal for the quarter yet still led 23-0 at the first change.
Kicking against the breeze in the second term, Laurimar had a big task ahead of it to ensure it still held the lead at the main break, but this looked a difficult task, particularly given Ivanhoe, this time around, kicked three goals in 10 minutes. Five minutes later, the Hoers had the lead, but there was a twist in the tale as Lawson’s second was the first against the breeze.
Ivanhoe added another, but at half time, it was game on, with Ivanhoe leading 34-29.
A hammer blow would be delivered in the first minute of the second half as an Ivanhoe goal against the breeze left the Power with some work to do.
Laurimar, sadly, couldn’t do enough to prevent Ivanhoe from clogging up the Power’s forward 50, yet it still yielded three goals for the term, through Macleod, Tyler Thomas and Luke Wilson, as the Power led 48-42 at the final change.
It was the first time Ivanhoe had trailed going into the last term this season, but with the breeze, it seemed to be inevitable that the Hoers would take over.
That looked to be the case when Ivanhoe kicked the first of the last, but Josh Leather had something to say about that, kicking a big goal against the breeze to put Laurimar back in front.
However, Ivanhoe had another gear and kicked the next four goals to take the grand final away.
Leather added a second, but Ivanhoe, perhaps cruelly, kicked the final three goals of the game to put a bit of mayo on the scoreboard, eventually winning 14.11 (95) to 9.8 (62).
Leather was adjudged Laurimar’s best, continuing to build his status as a big-game player after winning the best-on-ground medal in the Power’s 2023 premiership. Jesse Donaldson, Matt Keys, Noah Mooney, Jai Langford and Wilson were also named in the best.
Sadly, for the Power, it is now three grand final losses in five seasons.
South Morang’s quest to earn immediate promotion back into division 1 was ended after conceding the last four goals of its preliminary final clash with Old Paradians to lose by 11 points.
The Lions looked good in the opening stages of the game, kicking the opening two goals through Ben Peterson and Jesse John Christidis to lead 13-9 at the first change.
The second quarter followed a similar script, with Peterson again kicking the first of the term, before James Hewson kicked a miracle goal from a stoppage to extend the lead.
However, Paradians had a response, and meant the game was evenly poised at the main break, with the Lions leading 25-20.
The Raiders shot out of the blocks to start the third quarter, kicking the opening two goals to hit the front.
Sebastian Latina had a response for South Morang, before Hewson added another. Josh Lansfield then ensured the Lions would be in front at the final change, leading 45-40.
Paradians kicked the first of the last, but goals to Bailey Brown and Tyson Gresham meant the Lions looked good, sitting 13 points up midway through the last term.
However, the Lions stopped to a walk, and the Raiders kicked four goals in succession to break South Morang hearts, eventually winning 10.10 (70) to 9.5 (59).
Paul Sidhu, Ben Power, Nathan Stefanile, Mathew Robinson, Christidis and Chris Petroro were all named in the best, but sadly for the Lions, it is a straight sets exit.
MIXED ACTION IN RESERVES
LAURIMAR fell short to Ivanhoe in the Northern Football Netball League division 3 reserves grand final, while South Morang and Whittlesea will do battle in the division 2 decider on Saturday.
The Power had the first opportunity with a strong breeze at Lalor Reserve, but couldn’t capitalise, with Ivanhoe instead kicking two goals to lead at the first change, 14-9.
The Hoers dominated the second quarter, kicking three goals to extend the lead to 28 points by the main break, 37-9.
Laurimar fought back strongly in the third term, kicking six goals. Zac McMahon got on the board, before Nicholas Store kicked a ripper from the pocket.
Daniel Gikovski added another, as did Oisin Irvine, Brett McDonald and Jacob Bateman.
However, Ivanhoe also added two goals to ensure it would still hold the lead at the final change, 50-47.
Ivanhoe largely dominated the last quarter, kicking the first four goals of the term to end the Power’s hopes of going back-to-back in the reserves competition, and eventually finished up 31-point winners, 13.13 (91) to 9.6 (60).
Wade Spooner, Ethan Frawley, Kobe Weston, Hayden Smith, Bateman and Billy Lambert were all named in the best for the Power.
South Morang will do battle with Whittlesea for the division 2 reserves premiership at Preston City Oval on Saturday.
The Lions utilised a hot start to sit 20 points up at the first change and largely controlled the pace of play from there to answer all of Macleod’s challenges to eventually win 9.10 (64) to 7.6 (48).
After winning its first reserves premiership in 26 years last year, Whittlesea will be hoping to go back-to-back, while South Morang will be hoping to re-enact its 2024 reserves’ premiership triumph.
