Alexandra travelled to Kinglake for the eighteenth and final round of H&A games for the season for two games of football and four games of netball whilst the Under 18s travelled to Woori Yallock. The senior football team was hoping for their first win at the usually wet or windy mountain top ground since 2014 which would secure fifth place and a finals spot. The weather was exceptionally good and the ground in very good condition.
SENIORS: Alex. had made two changes including Brent McDonald and Lee Ragg to replace James Kidd and Tom Halligan. Kinglake began to the Clubrooms end and play rebounded back and forth early as each side’s defence was on top. Kinglake got the first goal before the Steiner twins Matt and Steven combined to get Alex. into a scoring position where Brayden Norris took a fine one handed mark but was offline. Kinglake got the next two goals and looked like they were up for the challenge. Brandon Kapakoulakis and Steve Steiner prominent early, again gave Norris a chance and he kicked Alexandra’s first goal. Conner Heaslip and Jack Goonan had to work hard in defence to keep the home side at bay. Scott Hill marked under pressure but his kick did not match the mark. Ben Cooper using one of the features of his game, tackling goaled from the resultant free but the Rebels trailed by a goal at the first change. The Steiner’s and Hill combined to give Cooper another shot at goal but it went wide. One of many errant handpasses allowed Kinglake the next goal but Alex. were going forward often for behinds. Norris went down in a heavy clash and appeared dazed. A Kinglake defender fumbled in the goalsquare and Cooper pounced. Ben Woolard sent his team forward and Matt Steiner goaled to give Alex the lead as they now seemed to be getting on top. This was soon reversed as the Lakers then kicked six unanswered goals in the last half of the quarter including one after the siren to go to a 31 point lead at half- time. Alex 2.7 to Kinglake 7.2 for the quarter was the main difference. Steve Steiner burst out of the centre and passed accurately to Norris for a goal with in the first minute of the third quarter to give Alex. the perfect start but unfortunately only two further goals to Norris and Joe Daniel who was now coming into the game was all that the Rebels could manage for the quarter whilst the home side with the speedy Crow (#7) and strong marking Quinten (#24) were able to get Kinglake forward where Nixon (#12) added goals. Down six goals at the last change Alexandra’s hopes of playing finals appeared now in Gembrook Cockatoo’s hands and the wonders of modern communication told Alex. supporter’s that they only held a five point lead over Powelltown at three quarter time. Kinglake extended the margin by six points after a period of uninspiring play. Again Steve Steiner won the centre clearance but his long kick was touched on the line but Alex came again and Heveren made the distance from a mark. Alex. were now using the ball more efficiently and Kapaloulakis roved a marking contest to goal. Daniels marked twice and the second enabled him to goal as Alex was now “coming home with a wet sail”. Matt Steiner and Norris forwarded for Hill to goal again as supporters were now looking to the scoreboard. Alex were continually in attack and after further goals to Daniels and Cooper to reduce the margin to less than a goal it seemed that Alex were going to pull off a great last quarter win. Unfortunately the siren sounded with Alex. four points short 13.16.94 to Kinglake 15.8.98. Best players. Steve Steiner showed the way all game. Steven’s kick to handball ratio, although a bit old style is most effective. When he wins the ball and breaks clear his first thought is” who can I kick it to”, not “ I must hand ball it to someone who can do no more with it than I can”.
Brandon Kapakoulakis in his best game this season used all his courage and experience. Ben Cooper, never beaten was also a strong player all game.” Conner Heaslip, Jack Goonan and Joe Daniel. Fortunately, the result at Gembrook went Alexandra’s way and they will now along with two netball teams contest the finals at Woori Yallock next SUNDAY Sept 2nd. Check Current Information for details.
How unlucky was Brayden Norris. 20 goals ahead prior to round 18 he looked odds on to win his second successive Div.Two goalkicking award. Brayden added three at Kinglake to bring his tally to 73 but Nathan O’Keefe kicked 25 at Thornton last Saturday as Seville amassed 59 goals.
RESERVES: The sixth placed Reserves with five changes to the team challenged Kinglake with only pride at stake as neither team could make finals. Alex. kicked to the Clubrooms end initially and soon looked the better team with early goals to Shane Hill (2) and Jedd Hamill. In a scrambly second quarter Alex. extended their margin, thanks to the defence of Chase Pearce and James Kidd. After half time, Alex. were well on top with Phil Heveren (4 goals) finishing off the efforts of Travis Carter, Tom Halligan and Tom Dodemaide in the midfield whilst the defence kept the home side scoreless. The last quarter was much tighter where Kinglake were able to kick their only goals for the game whilst Alex. was wasteful with 2 goals (Hill) 6. Best players included Travis Carter, Chase Pearce, Phil Heveren, James Kidd, Tom Halligan and Shane Hill. Alex. 12.20.92 to Kinglake 2.3.15. Unfortunately the Reserves have missed the finals for the first time in many years but it was hard for coach Scott Whitehead to get any stability with the many changes to the side every week as players missed because of injury or other commitments.
Under 18s took on the fourth placed Woori Yallock who had won their first encounter earlier in the season by 17 goals but the improvement in the Rebels continued as both teams kicked the one goal in the first quarter, the Tigers then kicking six goals to one in the second quarter to take a handy lead at half time. The third quarter was free flowing as the Tigers kicked an accurate six goals from seven scoring shots whilst the Rebels had their share of the play with six scoring shots but only converting two of those as goals. Another even quarter in the last as the Tigers kicked two goals to one to take the win 15.7 – 97 to 5.4 – 34 as the Rebels have one more game, travelling to Belgrave to take on Monbulk this Saturday.
Last Modified on 27/08/2018 19:27