By Tyler Lewis
Woori Yallock has held off a fast-finishing Wandin to secure the final place in the Outer East Premier Division grand final.
The Tigers had control of the arm-wrestle for three quarters; leading by nine points, 12 points and 26 points at the respective breaks before the Dogs bit back.
Wandin – with just three goals to three-quarter time – booted an additional three to the 12-minute mark of the final stanza, breathing life back into what had been a rather anticlimactic affair.
When Wandin’s Tom Merlino soccered through the Dogs fourth of the final term, the margin was yanked back to a solitary point, and memories of the sizzling Wandin finish just two week’s ago filtered around Healesville Reserve.
And though the momentum of the contest was well and truly in the favour of Wandin, the footy gods granted Jack Cole’s men one last wish at the 24-minute mark of the last.
Woori Yallock – which had yet to score in the final term – were delivered a holding the ball free kick, after Bulldog star Patty Bruzzese dragged the ball in deep in his defensive pocket.
Some unappreciated umpire feedback guided Mitch Arnold from the pocket to the top of the goal square and ultimately, to a date with Narre Warren next Sunday.
In the wake of the 8.9 (57) to 7.8 (50) victory, Woori Yallock coach Jack Cole revealed how a grand final berth is a rightful reward for eight months of hard work.
“We probably deserve it, we finished second,” he explained.
“They were terrific in the final series, Wandin, but I thought all year we were aiming to play in a grand final once it all settled down.
“To get there is good for the boys, they’ve worked really hard… they are very resilient, they never give up.
“There’s some old stooges in there that have been there and done it, and then there’s some young blokes that are learning from them.
It didn’t come without trepidation however, as the Tigers’ forgettable final quarter a fortnight ago remained front of mind for Cole.
“I suppose when they got within seven points it got pretty worrying… then they got another one and it got really worrying,” he said with relief.
“I was just trying to get us to keep our calm, but we couldn’t go too defensive, we had to try and score.
“If we were going to wait it out they (Wandin) were just going to run over the top of us.”
While it wasn’t a good day for the forwards at either end, Cole praised his back six – led by Joel Smith and Jacob Aitchison in particular.
“The backline was good all day,” he said.
“At the end with their extra run, we had a few blokes injured, they were able to get few us, but other than that, the backline was terrific.
“Thompson and (Liam) Odea were out, they are our two running midfielders.
“Thompson definitely won’t be playing and we’re just hoping for Odea.”
As for the message the grand final bound coach sent to his players post game:
“You’re in it, now you can win it, if you’re not it in it, you can’t win it… that’s what I say,” Cole said.
The Tigers – who are the only side to defeat Narre Warren this season – will now face the Pies for the ultimate prize.
Wandin coach Nick Adam said it was a disappointing way to finish their season.
“Woori [Yallock] were able to defend the ground really well and for three quarters we weren’t able to get any connection to centre forward,” he said.
“I’m proud of the way our players responded at three-quarter time and once fatigue became a factor and the ground opened up we were almost able to pinch it but they were too good on the day and deserve to be going through to the decider. I wish Jack and the boys well next week.”
WANDIN v WOORI YALLOCK
GOAL BY GOAL TIMELINE
TIME PLAYER (CLUB) MARGIN
FIRST QUARTER
06.44 M Cerquarelli (Wandin) Dogs by 6
14.25 J Ryan (Woori Yallock) Dogs by 1
16.10 J Ryan (Woori Yallock) Tigers by 5
End of quarter: Wandin 1.3 (9) to Woori Yallock 2.5 (17)
SECOND QUARTER
07.52 M Mutsaers (Wandin) Scores level
21.45 Z Monkhorst (Woori Yallock) Tigers by 7
23.10 A Marsh (Woori Yallock) Tigers by 13
End of quarter: Wandin 2.5 (17) to Woori Yallock 3.6 (30)
THIRD QUARTER
09.09 C Johnson (Wandin) Tigers by 8
14.55 J Neal (Woori Yallock) Tigers by 14
23.10 J Hay (Woori Yallock) Tigers by 20
26.30 K Busoli (Woori Yallock) Tigers by 26
End of quarter: Wandin 3.7 (25) to Woori Yallock 7.8 (51)
FOURTH QUARTER
07.42 J Garner (Wandin) Tigers by 20
10.32 C Smith (Wandin) Tigers by 14
12.33 M Cerquarelli (Wandin) Tigers by 8
22.12 T Merlino (Wandin) Tigers by 1
24.37 M Arnold (Woori Yallock) Tigers by 7
End of game: Wandin 7.8 (50) def by Woori Yallock 8.9 (57)
SCOREBOARD
WANDIN 1.3 2.5 3.7 7.8 (50)
WOORI YALLOCK 2.5 4.6 7.9 8.9 (57)
Wandin Goals: M Cerquarelli 2, C Johnson, J Garner, C Smith, T Merlino. Best: C Smith, H van Duuren, C Hirst, T HInds, B Chapman, T Garner.
Wandin Best: C Smith, H van Duuren, C Hirst, T Hinds, B Chapman, T Garner
Woori Yallock Goals: J Ryan 2, M Arnold, K Busoli, J Hay, A Marsh, Z Monkhorst. Best: B Spencer, J Lindgren, R Allen, N Mende, L Boontjes, J Smith.
Woori Yallock Best: B Spencer, J Lindgren, R Allen, N Mende, L Boontjes, J Smith
FIXTURE
Sunday 18 September
Narre Warren v Woori Yallock at Gembrook Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm
