The Alexandra Football Netball Club travelled to Woori Yallock last Sunday with the Senior football team contesting an Elimination Final whilst the C and D grade netball teams played Qualifying Finals. The Senior team was to play Gembrook Cockatoo and was keen to progress further into the finals after consecutive losses in 2016 and ’17 Elimination finals. Each team had won their home fixture and lost away during the season. Alexandra had included Chris McKay to replace Ben Woolard (hamstring tightness) and also Brent McDonald put the team first declaring he wasn’t well and was replaced by Daniel Rouget in the selected team. Alex. looked a better balanced side than the one who had lost recently at Gembrook. The weather was cool and occasional misty rain and the ground in good condition after recent rain.
The Seniors:
Alexandra began to the Northern end favoured by a slight breeze and won the first clearance through the Steiner twins Matt and Steve but Gembrook cleared until Steve Steiner again forwarded to Scott Hill for the first goal. Alex. continued to attack early. Jacob Brereton also had a chance but was off line, then Rouget from a mark forwarded to Brandon Kapakoulakis who cleverly got the ball to Jake Steyger in the goal square for a second Alex. goal. Gembrook then got forward and a free resulted in their first goal. Gembrook had now settled and forwarded repeatedly but were offline until a second goal eventuated. Alex. showed that they were up for the contest with Brereton and Steyger doing well. The umpires were letting it go with obvious free kicks un- penalized. Gembrook got a third goal from a long way out and they were now using the ball better. A long Alex. shot on goal went just the wrong side of the post as the sun broke through just on quarter time. With Alex. seven points in arrears. Gembrook kicked their fourth goal within a minute of the resumption of play. Brayden Norris had a chance for Alex but his long shot stayed right. The Alex defence was under pressure and Michael Whitbourne was leading the way. Hill took a good mark and his kick found Brereton but he too was offline. Michael Ferrito showed his class and experience with a long goal as the Brooker's looked cleaner with the ball in hand. Unfortunately Whitbourne went down injured and was stretchered off the ground. Brereton marking well passed to McKay but he missed what he should have kicked as Alex. misused the ball by hand and foot. Finally Michael Coombs forwarded and Brereton kicked a much needed Alex. goal. Gembrook replied with a goal from the forward pocket. Joe Daniel also marked well but his kick let him down. The Gembrook defenders made a mistake deep and Norris made them pay the full price. Ben Cooper also winning plenty of the ball, marked well and his goal got the margin back to a more manageable level. Feritto won a free, and cunningly a 50m penalty to restore Gembrook’s margin of 19 points at the main break. Alex. attacked first but Gembrook rebounded well and kicked the first goal of the third quarter. Using the ball better Gembrook kicked a second goal and looked to be in control. Cooper won a free with a typical tackle but was wide then Kapakoulakis also missed a chance as he seemed to change his mind running toward goal. Rouget marking well turned Gembrook out until a third goal at the 20 minute mark and the margin was now six goals plus. Scott Heveren now forward won a free and goaled. Alex. came again but Cooper’s long shot just missed. Matt Steiner’s high kick forward was marked by Heveren who kicked his second goal. Then Coombs found Daniel and Alex. were now back in the contest after ten minutes of good football. Alex. had squared the quarter to still trail by 19 points at the last change. The last quarter began in sunshine but the Alex defence was under pressure as Gembrook added behinds. Alex also added a behind before Heveren snapped a team lifting goal. Norris then sent forward where Steve Steiner goaled and the difference was now seven points. early in the last quarter. Gembrook attacked with the breeze but the Alex. defence forced them wide until a freak goal to the Brooker’s gave then some breathing space. A strong tackle by Rouget halted a threatening attack but despite the efforts of Will Goonan deep in defence Gembrook kicked their twelfth goal. Kapakoulakis and Hill mounted an attack and Heveren kicked his fourth goal at the 18 minute mark but unfortunately this was to be the last Alex. goal as Gembrook kicked the last goal of the game to record a 20 point won 13.19.97 to Alex. 11.11.77. Best Players included Jacob Brereton, Daniel Rouget, Steve Steiner, Ben Cooper, Jake Steyger, and Will Goonan. Coach Sam Kidd in thanking players for their efforts over the season empathized that it was not effort but some skill errors that were costly.
UNDER 18S
The seventh placed Rebels’ Under 18s took on the sixth placed Monbulk at Belgrave in the final round of the home and away season last Saturday with both teams keen to finish with a win leading into the Finals. Monbulk had the better start with four goals to two in the first quarter and held that lead at half time after both teams kicked two goals in the second quarter. The third quarter again was an even contest as both teams kicked one goal for the quarter but the Rebels fought back in the last to win the quarter, kicking two goals to one but Monbulk won the game 8.12 – 60 to 5.5 – 35 at the final siren. The League will notify Clubs of the finals format and match locations during the week.
Last Modified on 03/09/2018 11:53