| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmaus St Leos | 1.2-8 | 7.5-47 | 10.5-65 | 13.8-86 |
| Canterbury Football Club | 4.2-26 | 4.4-28 | 7.7-49 | 8.8-56 |
Goal Kickers: M. Astbury 4, T. Wooster 2, M. Szabo, N. Hicks
Best Players: R. Walmsley, M. Astbury, N. Szabo, J. Temopoulos, H. Berenger, L. Shearer
After a brilliant and stirring performance in the last round, we find ourselves in the four. Playing finals had been so close for the last two seasons yet had slipped through the grasp. It was time to test ourselves against the best and see how far this new group of cobras could progress.
With a one all ledger against St Leos through the regular season the mood was buoyant throughout the week. Some injury concerns for Wheeler, Molony, Desmond and Carapetis had seen four changes to the side that did the job against Westbourne. Coming into the side Shearer, Joseph, McGrath and Thomas.
The key to our good results of late have been a good start. This was true for the opening term with a strong breeze we managed four goals to one and set a strong message we were up for the fight. Some great play through the mids was a key factor in the first quarter result.
The momentum swung heavily in St Leos favour in the second. We struggled to get the ball into our forward half and there outside runners were getting plenty of it. They had the upper hand in the midfield and were causing chaos at the stoppages. The result was a six goal to nil quarter and a nineteen point lead at half time.
We had to respond and use the conditions to our favour. Pegging this back would be a tall order but there was faith in the group that it was no way finished. With three goals a piece it was an intriguing third quarter with both sides enjoying good patches of control. However we just couldn’t get back more than two in a row too really turn up the torch. It was still only a fourteen point deficit at the last change and anyones game.
We had and early chance to bring it back to eight points but not to be. St Leos kicked the next two and the heavens opened. The weather wasn’t helping the task and we were simply running out of gas. The boys fought on admirably for the rest of the game and never chucked in the towel. It was not our day. Eventually going down by thirty points.
I would like to take the opportunity to give thanks to all players, committee, sponsors and volunteers that make this great club what it is. A big thanks to senior coach Dadt for another great season and to Zig, Duck, Mick and Tony for all of your hard work throughout the year. To the entire playing group, big strides have been made this year to build a sustainable model going forward and it will only function at its best if you have complete buy-in from those who all want the same outcome. So saddle up next season and lets all build on the great work from this year and try and go a couple of steps further.
Grizzle
#YNSA
