A FINAL-quarter burst from Knox Falcons forced Noble Park out of the race for the Eastern Football League division 1 reserves flag.
The Falcons dominated the final term, kicking nine goals to one to win the preliminary final by 46 points at Bayswater Oval on Saturday.
The Falcons will now play undefeated Vermont in the reserves grand final, also at Bayswater Oval, this Saturday.
While the Falcons had threatened to run away with the match in the second and third terms, the Bulls fought back each time and began the last term with scores tied.
But four quick goals to the Falcons left them with a match-winning advantage, one they built on throughout the final minutes.
Bulls reserves coach Benn Logan said his side simply lost the battle of the midfields.
“They started getting on top and when you go two, three then four goals down, we made that one final effort, then we were broken,” he said.
“We are shattered because making a grand final is such a difficult thing to do.
“But this year we have put 10 or so players from under-19s into either senior footy or reserves footy and it’s a big development for the club.”
While he didn’t offer a tip for the grand final winner, he did say the game would be decided by the onballers. “The battle of the midfields is where all good reserves footy matches are won, you could see that today,” he said.
“Whoever gets the best of the ball and can get it to their forwards will win the grand final.”
The Bulls’ senior vote count will be this Sunday at Pat Wright Senior Oval.
EFL division 1 reserves preliminary final
Knox 1.4, 3.5, 5.8, 14.11 (95) d Noble Park 2.4, 3.6, 6.5, 7.7 (49)
Goals: Knox: J Phillips, M Sutherland, M Donald 3, B Blizzard 2, J Hammill, M Jordan, M Reyment. Noble Park: L Cody 2, R Lengyel, S Goedheer, M Josic, S Wise, S Tolongs. Best: Knox: S Grose, D Gianforte, J Dennis, L Stanic, I McCrimmon, B Blizzard. Noble Park: C Horton-Milne, R Lengyel, T Robertson, D Schulberg, H Elkasovic, W Fenner.
—Roy Ward
