By Travis Parnaby
Frankston has eclipsed last year's grand finallist Coburg by six points in a spiteful second elimination final at a sun kissed TEAC Oval.
Despite falling 23-points adrift at the major break, the Dolphins outscored Coburg eight goals to four in a bruising second half.
The Tigers started the last quarter with two quick goals to snatch the lead but the Dolphins found an extra gear, with rover Paul Kennedy finding space on the wing and pinpointing a pass to lead-up forward Luke Clark. This was quickly followed by a Ricky Morris chip to Tory Dickson to extend the lead to seven points.
The Dolphins sturdy defence of captain Shaun Pollard, Anthony Raso (19 disposals) and the hardworking Neil Winterton ensured victory in the dying stages as Coburg pressed hard to snatch the win.
Ecstatic Dolphins coach Brett Lovett commended his side on their ability to dig in and not give up.
"I had great belief. It's just a great win," he told ABC TV.
Equally as enthusiastic was Dolphin back Anthony Raso, who labelled the win "the start of a fantastic finals series".
"It shows what a side like us can do when we play as a team," Raso told ABC TV.
After both sides had their chances in the first term, the Tigers made use of Tristan Cartkledge's deft tap work (22 Tiger hit outs to seven by half time) to pump the ball inside 50ms on 35 occassions to Frankston's 22. Midfielders Cam Howat, Nick Carnell and skipper Paul Shelton (15 touches to half-time) had time to deliver to strong marking forward Cleve Hughes, who had four goals on the board by the main break. At his feet was lively small foward Fortunato Caruso, who weaved his way in and out of traffic to drill several lovely goals.
The Tigers were also getting just reward for their intense pressure up the field with Nat Caruso's tackling hard and effective. This determined output had set-up a 23-point advantage that would take some beating.
Frankston came out firing with both the footy and physicality in a memorable third term. After Justin Berry (13 disposals, three marks and two goals) dodged the man on the mark and nailed a long-ranged gem it was game on. Berry's celebrations flared from a bump to an all-in brawl, which ignited in seemingly seconds.
Three reports and a few brusies later, it was the Tigers who were now rattled as the Dolphins emerged a more cohesive and hardened unit.
The third quarter was all the Dolphins as they managed to break even at the stoppages and rebound from half-back, through prolific ball gatherers Winterton, Toby Conroy and Tory Dickson.
Up forward, the Dolphins had a strong target in full-forward Dean Limbach, who booted his fourth goal. Lightning quick winger Morris floated forward to be a dangerous option in addition to the tireless leading of Luke Clark.
It was a true dogfight in the last and again Coburg seemed to bounce back from the canvas. Coburg's Mark Coughlan and Howat combined to set-up Clayton Collard for his second goal and Daniel Connors took mark of the day inside 50m and drilled the goal from 45m.
But when Morris and Dickson combined to put the Dolphins seven points in front, it was to be the Dolphins day.
Frankston now plays Williamstown in the second semi-final on Saturday, September 13 at TEAC Oval at 1.10pm.
Last Modified on 14/01/2009 12:22