McNamee registered the Saints first goal within the first minute of play, shortly after Lantjin brought up their second. After marking strongly Foott converted for the Bulls to register their first major score after missing a couple of easy chances. Coghlan and McNamee kicked goals for the Saints to take their lead out to 17-points at the first change.
After the break the Bulls were determined to mount a strong challenge to the Saints but the Saints had a different view on the matter. McNamee and Coghlan were in the action again both kicking two goals for the term. St Arnaud went on to kick seven goals for the quarter, while the Bulls could only manage two goals coming from Koops and Tyler. At the end of term two, the Saints had extended their lead out to 45-points and were really playing good footy and even at this stage were looking winners, the Bulls had no answers to their quick and precise deliver of the ball. Hall and Postlewaite were under enormous pressure down back as the Saints continued to pepper the goals and deserved their lead going to half time.
At the break Birchip-Watchem made some positional changed to try and counter the dominance of the St Arnaud side, this they did to a degree, but while they slowed the Saints scoring down, they were unable to convert at the other end and by three quarter time had fallen a bit further behind and the task of advancing into next week’s Grand Final was getting more difficult by the minute. A 51-point lead to the Saints looked far beyond the Bulls reach and a minor miracle would need to happen for them to take out this game with only 30 minutes of footy left in the game.
Birchip-Watchem can claim they won their last quarter of football for 2012, but it did not alter the result by any great margin, as they on gained four points on the St Arnaud side, which was heading into next week’s Grand Final. Hallam was instrumental in getting a little respect on the score board with two early goals, Foott and Smith also kicked goals for the Bulls but the Saints had all the answers having goals added to their tally by Lantjin, Cunningham, Wild and when McNamee kicked his fifth for the day the Saints faithful went up as one as they had pulled off a remarkable year, turning the club from cellar dwellers to a side capable of collecting some silverware, when playing for the Halfhide Cup in next week’s 2012 decider against the Redbacks.
This is a real rags to riches story and the Saints Football Club must be congratulated on their effort to turn the club around in such a short time, they not only have their seniors playing on Grand Final day, their reserves will also line up at Boort after booking their spot in last week’s semi-final.
For the Bulls theirs has also been a season where they have made a big forward move, after finishing in sixth position last year, through to a prelim-final just twelve months later. The Bulls will still have involvement on Grand Final day with their two underage sides playing off for premiership glory.
Scores: St Arnaud 18-5=113 def Birchip-Watchem 9-12=66
Best for St Arnaud: N. Baldwin, J. McNamee, R. Wild, J. Miles, S. Miles and Ben Batters. Goals: J. McNamee 5, N. Coghlan 4, A. Lantjin 3, L. Cunningham, Jono Miles 2, J. James and R. Wild 1 each.
Best for Birchip-Watchem: Z. Holmes, C. Hallam, T. Carland, C. Postlewaite, J. Noonan and B. Hall. Goals: L. Foott, C. Hallam, M. Smith, J. Tyler 2, R. Koops 1.
Reserves
Donald 8-9=57 def Wycheproof-Narraport 6-10= 46
Best for Donald: D. Pearce, T. Grant, G. Burke.
Goals T. Grant 3, G. Burke 2, B. Dixon, J. Heslop and S. Wood 1 each.
Best for Wycheproof-Narraport: A. Durie, P. Lilham, J. Purdy.
Goals: J. Grylls 3, C. Dillon, C. Duffy and A Durie 1 each.
Under 16’s
Birchip-Watchem 14-7=91 def St Arnaud 6-3= 39
Best for the Bulls: J. Christie, S. Hogan, R. Sayle, J. O’Donnell, J. Ryan, J. Gleeson.
Goals: Joe Boyle 5, S. Hogan, S. Lowry, R. Sayle 2, J. Christie, C. Goding, J. O’Donnell 1 each.
Best for St Arnaud: P. Hamilton, B. Williams, R. Tannock, L. McKenzie, J. Griffith and R. Neilson.
Goals: S. Clohesy 2, C. Aspland, J. Condie-McKenny, J. Griffith, J. Summers.
Under 13’s
Birchip-Watchem 3-4=22 def Donald 2-6= 18
Best for Birchip-Watchem: B. Lee, J. Reid, J. McGinnis.
Best for Donald: C. Anderson, B. Tonkin, T. May
Next Week’s Grand Finals
Under 13’s 9.30 am Wedderburn v Birchip-Watchem
Under 16’s 10.55 am Donald v Birchip-Watchem
Reserves 12.30 pm St Arnaud v Donald
Seniors 2.30 pm Wedderburn v St Arnaud
Last Modified on 17/09/2012 11:58