WALLAN came back from the dead against Kyneton over the weekend to keep its Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) premiership hopes alive, dominating the last quarter to win the first semi-final.
They looked down and out from the get-go conceding the first three goals of the game to the Tigers who looked to move the ball with speed on a beautiful day for footy.
Hayden Gill opened the account for the Magpies half way through the first, But Kyneton responded quickly.
League goalkicking winner Lachlan Smart added another two to the scoreboard late, including an unbelievable checkside goal from the boundary, leaving the score at 22-28 in the way of the Tigers.
Gill kicked the first goal of the second to even the scoreboard, before both teams went goal for goal leaving the margin at 44 apiece at the main break.
The premiership quarter set the game alight for Kyneton, dominating through the midfield.
They kicked the first four goals of the term, before Wallan responded with three of their own.
To close out the high scoring quarter, Kyneton kicked another two to then go 65-86 in front at the final break.
It would take a solid comeback for the Magpies to get back into the game from here, yet they found a way. Kicking the first in the final term through Jake Carlisle, the Magpies won the first couple of centre clearances to stamp their dominance.
But Kyneton decided otherwise, kicking the next three goals through Angus Nolte and Harry Ryan.
The goals set the crowd alight, looking absolutely certain to send the minor premiers to bed.
Smart kicked a goal at the 18-minute mark of the final term to bring the margin back to 28 points.
Another centre clearance for the Pies pushed an intolerable pressure on the Tigers, as Corey Salvador kicked the next to bring it to 21 points.
It was then costly inaccuracy from Wallan, kicking five points in a row as major frustration grew through the crowd.
Chris Stewart brought the game back for the Magpies with a huge contested mark, then quickly handballed it to Jake Layley who slotted it through the big sticks at the 26–minute mark to sit 10 points down.
Another centre clearance meant it was another quick opportunity at goal, which Wallan converted through Blaide Dickson less than a minute later.
The crowd was and truly shocked when Wallan then missed an opportunity late to go in front at the 29-minute mark.
But another Kyneton turnover gave the man who opened the account for the day, Gill, an opportunity at goal, which he took with open arms to go up at the 31-minute mark of the game.
Wallan would lead by three points with less then a minute of game time on the clock, but Kyneton found a way to get the centre clearance, which sent the ball deep in into their forward 50, but it was another great defensive display from the Magpies, keeping out another goal until the final siren.
It marked one of the great finishes in the RDFNL history, to keep the Magpies’ season alive and book themselves with a preliminary final against Riddells Creek next week.
It was Ben Dessent, Steven Boyall, Dion Hill, Chris Stewart, Jake Carlisle and Nash King who got the credit for the best players for Wallan.
On Saturday, it wasn’t even close to a competitive game between the double reigning premiers Riddells Creek and Diggers Rest.
Although kicking the first, Riddell looked on a completely lower level to a extremely stacked and talented Diggers Rest side, who featured two elite games from former Collingwood premiership player Oleg Markov and former Blue and Tiger Callum Moore.
Moore kicked 11 goals to mark his 100th for the season, which was celebrated by the crowd running on the field.
Markov was huge in defence, starting the Burras run and transition game with elite pace which will be hard to beat come grand final day.
They won the game by 131 points in a 176-45 contest, seemingly giving Riddell no hope if they were to meet them in the grand final in two weeks’ time.
Wallan continued its unbeaten streak in the reserves, defeating Diggers Rest by 24 points after a dominant first half.
Macedon knocked out Melton Central on Sunday, meaning they’ll play the Burras next week for a spot against Wallan in the grand final.
In the under 19.5s, Gisborne will feature in another grand final in that division, marking their continued dominance at the age group, but they’ll have to get through either Woodend or Macedon on grand final day, who take each other on this Saturday.
