South Morang will go into the finals series on a 12-game winning streak after winning a nail-biter against St Mary’s at Mill Park Lakes Reserve by four points.
In a see-sawing battle, the Lions prevailed 8.7 (55) to 7.9 (51) to keep Gary Hall’s unbeaten record as coach intact.
The home side went into the game as favourites – despite losing Matthew Trim and Harry Whybrow from the selected line-up. They were replaced by Nathan Tassell – who played the first term in the reserves match – and Lachlan Buckley.
The quarter by quarter scores were always within two kicks, but St Mary’s controlled the middle part of the contest – booting five unanswered goals either side of the main break.
In that time, the Burra went from 17 points down and in trouble to 14 points ahead six minutes into the third term and looking like winners.
However, South Morang fought its way back into the match – scoring the only other goal of the third term – to give itself a chance.
St Mary’s coach Con Borg liked what he saw at the last change and asked his team to go on with it and win the game.
Meanwhile, South Morang coach Gary Hall moved wingman Jordan Steele forward to begin the final term. The moved paid off in spades.
Steele had a hand in three goals for his team within the first ten minutes of the final stanza – kicking two himself and finding Alex Colaidis in space to put the Lions in front.
The Burra were not going down without a fight – and regained the lead through a goal to Matthew Patti at the 15-minute mark.
The teams slugged it out in difficult conditions for the next ten minutes without so much as a behind being scored.
The final score of the game was great theatre. A Lions player had his shot at goal from close range smothered brilliantly by the St Mary’s defender. The ball ricocheted to a Lions player who fed the ball out to James Mellerick for an easy conversion.
Another four minutes passed without a score until the final bell. The South Morang players came from the ground exhausted – but very pleased to have kept their winning run under coach Hall intact.
“They lifted when they needed to,” Hall said after the game. He was pleased with the work of Mellerick, as well as Cory Giannone in his fifth senior game.
Hall also praised the work of his fill-in ruck combination of Bojan Marinkovic and Lachlan Buckley.
The Lions had Raafat Rachrche hobble off the ground in the second term and he took no further part in the game.
St Mary’s coach Con Borg took some positives out of the contest despite the loss.
“We got what we needed out of the game,” he said. “We ticked those boxes and head into finals full of confidence”.
On a sour note for the Burra, Adam Lucci had to be assisted from the ground late in the match with a knee injury.
Daniel Dober controlled the ruck for St Mary’s and his side was also well served by Daniel Castagnini and Jake Dambrauskas.
South Morang now plays Banyule in the second semi final at the Whittlesea Showgrounds on Saturday, with the winner taking the short route to the grand final.
St Mary’s plays Epping in the first semi final at the same venue on Sunday, with the winner to play the loser of the Lions versus Bears game in the preliminary final
Final scores: South Morang 8.7 (55) def St Mary’s 7.9 (51)
