THE second semi-final between St John’s and Glen Eira at Trevor Barker Beach Oval had it all.
From the first bounce it was game on – but St John’s took longer to settle and it was Glen Eira who took a 12-point lead into the quarter-time break.
In the second quarter, St John’s settled, Nick Pouki provided a focal point up front, Darren O’Connor and Doug Carmichael were being tested in the backline and St John’s midfielders, led by Jarrod Gaget, Liam Mara and Darren Dick, worked hard to feed the ball into the forward 50. Glen Eira’s talls presented a real challenge winning and capitalising on key marking contests.
By the half-time break, Glen Eira had increased their lead to 20 points. In the third term, St John’s matched Glen Eira on the scoreboard, but couldn’t stop or outscore them, going into the three-quarter time break 22 points down.
Both teams knew the first score of the final term would go a long way in deciding the outcome. It wasn’t to be St John’s day, Glen Eira finishing 33 points in front at the end.
And that’s when St John’s started their preparation for this week’s preliminary final against Therry Penola with a recovery session at Sandringham beach.
Glen Eira 18.8 (116) d St John’s Old Collegians 12.11 (83).
Goals: N. Pouki 4, D. Carmichael 3, D. Camm 3, R. Scott, C. Ely.
Best: L. Mara, J. Gaget, D. O’Connor, N. Pouki, D. Carmichael, D. Dick.
@BT Sub Sport News:RESERVES
St John’s had their season on the line, and took the initiative to jump Latrobe University.
St John’s had numbers at every contest, ran the ball and their disposal was spot on. At the first break, St John’s led by nine points and had made it clear they had come to play.
In the second term, St John’s continued where they left off and had winners in most positions. The backline, led by Aaron Alexander, was dominant, holding Latrobe to one-point while the St John’s forward line, with spearhead Donovan Jones firing, added four goals to take a 33-point lead into half time.
La Trobe took the game to St John’s in the third quarter, but all challenges were answered and St John’s won by 30 points. Overall, it was a great team effort and a great experience for the boys leading into next week’s preliminary final against Therry Penola.
St John’s 13.8 (86) d La Trobe University 7.14 (56).
Goals: D. Jones 6, J. Butt 2, M. Horbury, E. Jakwot, B. Ayache, B. Mann, P. Ward.
Best: B. Mann, A. Alexander, M. Horbury, J. Butt, N. Gordon.
