By JARROD POTTER
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE – DIVISION 2 SEMI-FINAL
INJURIES piled up for Keysborough when it mattered most. The loss of Corey Wilkinson and Tyson King – to season-ending injuries – crippled the side’s bookends.
After a gruelling inaugural Keysborough SFL season, the fans were left feeling a bit hollow by the end after a 40-point loss to Caulfield.
After a down-and-dirty first quarter – narrowly claimed by the Burra – the Bears woke from their hibernation.
The rampage from there on was swift as the underdogs booted 15 goals in three terms to leave no doubt as to who owned the day.
Keysborough fought back through the third term to bring the gap back to 10, but its wayward kicking became a severe issue.
In the end the mirror image score-lines – Keysborough’s 11.19 (85) to Caulfield’s 19.11 (125) – told just as much of a story as every big hit, hard tackle or dogged contest.
The old-stagers Daniel Morland, Will Gayfer and Ryan Goodes were among the best in a rough day for the Burra, which was defeated in straight sets in its first SFL finals campaign.
Keysborough finished fourth in the competition with Oakleigh District, Murrumbeena and Caulfield battling it out for the premiership.
VAFA – DIVISION 2 PRELIMINARY FINAL
St John’s was left to wonder where it all went wrong after throwing away an early 35-point lead in its VAFA Division 2 preliminary final defeat by Old Paradians.
After losing Ryan O’Connor last week to a knee injury, it continued the JOCs’ horror injury run. But despite the tough times so far, the ball belonged to the Dandy boys on Sunday as it was on St John’s string in the first term. The JOCs booted six goals with Aaron Thornton (three goals) and Tim Edwards (two goals) giving the Paradians’ defenders nothing but headaches.
But as soon as the St John’s had built its lead, it was whittled away rapidly by the fast-moving underdogs.
Paradians booted six of its own in the second term to take back the lead as St John’s started to fade with injuries halting their ability to run out the clash.
The JOCs were done and dusted after the Paradians slammed on four goals in the final term to book a grand final place.
Jarrod Gaget, Daniel Cattolico and Manny Jakwot continued their impressive seasons alongside Edwards, Glen Costas and Daniel Abou-Karroum in the best.
The JOCs bow out of the race in third position with Ivanhoe and Old Paradians to battle it out on Saturday for the premiership.
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE – DIVISION 2 SEMI-FINAL
KEYSBOROUGH 4.5 5.8 9.16 11.19 (85)
CAULFIELD 4.3 10.7 12.8 19.11 (125)
KEYSBOROUGH Goals: T. Bacic 2, D. Morland 2, D. Rajic 2, W. Gayfer 2, M. Burnett, G. Humphreys, C. Hargreaves. Best: D. Morland, W. Gayfer, S. Dunn, G. Humphreys, R. Goodes, T. Bacic.
VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION – DIVISION 2 PRELIMINARY FINAL
ST JOHN’S 6.6 6.6 7.10 8.12 (60)
OLD PARADIANS 1.1 7.7 9.7 13.12 (90)
ST JOHN’S Goals: A. Thornton 3, T. Edwards 2, R. Scott, D. Cattolico, D. Abou-Karroum. Best: J. Gaget, D. Cattolico, E. Jakwot, T. Edwards, G. Costas, D. Abou-Karroum. OLD PARADIANS Goals: B. Holden 4, J. Kandilakis 2, D. Boundy 2, A. Tulipano, K. O’Brien, L. McCann, M. Nolan, M. Bellizia. Best: J. Kappos, C. Kandilakis, M. Nolan, A. Tsapatsaris, A. Sheehy, B. Holden.
