The surprises keep coming in the Division 2 Men’s competition after a Preliminary Final upset. Cohesion has come very easily for the newly amalgamated Old Yarra Cobras, reaching the Grand Final in their first season as a combined team. Yet, following a highly competitive season, Brunswick have played their final match for 2023 after bowing out in the prelim.
Garvey Oval was the landscape for Sunday’s Preliminary Final where Brunswick came head-to-head with the Old Yarra Cobras. This match up was the third time these two sides met, with one win a piece, heading into the Preliminary Final.
Both sides hit the scoreboard early with 5 goals scored in the first quarter, and it was Brunswick holding a 5-point lead. Jonathon Haddad once again a leading goal kicker for the NOBs, while Thomas O’Farrell stepped up and was best on in a tough loss.
With sharpshooters in the Cobras outfit, there was a momentum shift in the second, the Cobras the more accurate of the two sides in front of the big sticks to take the lead into the main break. David Tokatliyan and Luke Stacker had three majors each for the day to get their side across the line. And once again it was Nick Zappala, a born leader for the Cobras, who was best afield for his side.
They say football matches can be won in the premiership quarter, and this certainly proved to be the case for the mighty Cobras, exerting their dominance to carry a lead through to the end, and kicking three final goals to round out the game. The Cobras victorious over Brunswick by 20 points at the final siren.
The Old Yarra Cobras have almost reached the summit but first they must conquer Goliath. Parkside have had a dream run this season and are arguably the ones to beat. The Cobras are yet to defeat the Devils and there would be no better time than in the Premiership match come Sunday.
After a week off, the Devils should be red hot and ready for battle at Piranha Park as they face the determined Cobras.
Can the merged Old Yarra Cobras make history and win a flag in their first year? Or will Parkside emerge victorious and achieve their own impressive feat of a double ladder climb across three seasons, having come up from Division 3 after last season? There is a lot on the line for both sides, and either way there will be an incredible Premiership story that unfolds.
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