Our senior match saw a close finish with the Geelong and District scrapping home by just four points after holding a 34 point lead early into the final quarter.
In the opening term the slick Geelong and District side posted their first goal in the opening couple of minutes of the game. The first goal for the North Central took a little longer with Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers Billy McInnes posting our first goal. Geelong again pushed the ball forward for a major score before our side slammed on two quick goals through Wycheproof-Narraports Ricky Allan and Matt Riordan giving us the lead by midway through the quarter. Geelong struck back in the later part of the first quarter with goals to Grundell and then two goals to Fulton who was creating plenty of opportunities for the visitors and at the first break Geelong had established an eight point lead.
In what was launching into a great contest the North Central drew first blood through the Bulls Lachie Foott, Geelong answered and from here both sides went goal for goal with our goals coming the way of Donald’s Darcy Harrison and Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers Kyle Brasser. Geelong through Fulton got the last goal of the half with Fulton kicking his third to give the visitors an eleven point margin at the main break.
With a half to go and not a lot separating the two sides we were set for a good contest but Geelong side got the first goal to extend their lead. Chris Howgate took a strong mark and kicked truly for the North Central to pull back the Geelong lead. Geelong appeared to find another leg and kicked the next four goals to take a handy lead. The North Central backs were giving their all but the slickness by hand and foot of the Geelong side was making their job fairly difficult as their lead got out to thirty four points nearing three quarter time. The North Central from the restart pushed the ball forward where Donald’s Brodie Haddow cut their lead back to twenty eight points just prior to the siren sounding to end the third term.
Looking down the barrel of defeat the North Central were hoping for a good start but it went the way of Geelong with Ettridge pushing the Geelong lead out to over thirty points five minutes into the final term and it wasn’t looking good for the home side. From this point the North Central side rallied and went on to kick the next five goals with two goals to Ricky Allan and Darcy Harrison and one goal to Lachie Foott. The Geelong side was getting very nervous as whatever they tried to stem the flow of the North Central side wasn’t working but the clock was on their side and at the final bell they was able to hold on to win by just four points. The North Central was gallant in defeat and done the league proud. To go down by under a goal after being near six goals down, shows how dedicated these players were to the cause to finish off this way and we thank them for their effort and no player would have lost any friends as we all know that they gave their all for the North Central.
Best for the North Central: Kyle Brasser (SLNT), Ricky Allan (WNFC) Kieran Wilson Boort, Nathan Holt Wedderburn, Riley Hogan (BWFC) and Donald’s Brodie Haddow.
Goals for the North Central: Darcy Harrison, Ricky Allan 3, Lachie Foott 2, singles Kyle Brasser, Brody Haddow, Chris Howgate, Billy McInnes and Matt Riordan.
Geelong better players: Michael Best, Keiran Fulton, Samuel Jacka, Jack Brauman, Paddy Dwyer, Jayden Ettridge.
Goals: Keiran Fulton, Jayden Ettridge 3, Michael Grozdanovski, Robert Logue, Ashley Brown2, singles, Brauman, Grundell and Holwell
Final score Geelong & District 15-1, 91 defeated North Central 13-9, 87.
Winner of the AFL Victoria Medal for North Central was Kyle Brasser
Winner of the AFL Victoria Medal for Geelong & District was Michael Best.
Under 18’s
Geelong got off to a flyer when they kicked the first goal of the game but from this point on the North Central side took charge kicking the next three goals and completely dominating the play and taking a sixteen point lead to the first break. Goals for the North Central come from Wedderburn’s Rhordan and Oscar Holt and Donald’s Harry Cashin.
Geelong got a bit of a shakeup at the quarter time break and it appeared to work with the visitors kicking the first two goals of the term to get within a kick of North Central. Jack Tillig two goals and Rhordan Holt put the home sides lead back out to around four goals and Wylie cut the margin back near half time with Geelong’s third goal.
After the main stoppage it was all North Central who totally dominated the game as they went on to score nine more goals and kept the Geelong side to just six points in the second half of the game. The North Central had winners on all lines and it would be pleasing for some of the players in the team to get some revenge on the Geelong side who have in the past give our boys a football lesson and there was no way known that our players was going to let them off lightly as they continued to apply the pressure right to the final siren. Well done to Coach Alistair Egan, assistant Tony Cashin for your effort, both of you has been there in past years and you along with the team deserved your win, it was credit to the whole squad for the way you pulled together as a team to task victory and do it in front of your home crowd.
Best in a real team effort: Captain Ben Hogan, Jack Tillig, Brady Tillig, Cooper Anderson, Mitch Egan and Luke Holt.
Goals: Jack Tillig 6, Harry Cashin 3, Rhordan Holt, Mitch Egan 2, Luke Holt and Oscar Holt 1 each.
Final score North Central 15-12, 102 defeated Geelong & District 4-8, 32
The AFL Victoria Medal for the North Central was won by their Captain in Ben Hogan from Birchip Watchem.
Best for Geelong & District and winner of the AFL Victoria Medal was their Captain in Lachlan Sharp.
Last Modified on 19/05/2017 14:16