Vultures swoop on Fitzroy to reach Grand Final as Tigers down Rovers – Premier C Men’s Finals Week 1 Review

Hampton Rovers 4.9 (33) def by St Bedes/Mentone Tigers 10.13 (73)

A decisive third-quarter charge has secured St Bedes/Mentone a place in the Preliminary Final, the Tigers overcoming an eight-point half-time deficit to win by 40 points at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

As expected, the Elimination Final was played at high intensity from the opening ball-up, with both sides turning the ball over frequently in the first term. The midfields matched each other’s pressure around the contest, and the teams went to the first break with a goal apiece.

The Tigers were able to keep the ball at the right end of the ground early in the second term, but it was Will Crawford’s major at the 12-minute mark that shifted the momentum in favour of the Rovers. Soon after, Lui Coughlin capitalised on the Rovers’ territorial dominance with a true conversion just before time-on.

St Bedes coach Joel McKee acknowledged that his side lost composure in the second quarter, allowing the Rovers to gain an edge on the scoreboard.

“We panicked a bit … we were probably lucky to be a goal down at half-time,” he said.

At the main change, McKee addressed his side with a message about being more relaxed and playing the game rather than the occasion.

“We spoke about getting our composure back with the ball in hand … we did that well in the second half,” McKee added.

From there it was all St Bedes on the scoreboard, the visitors registering the next 10 scoring shots of the contest, albeit missing the chance to blow the game wide open. The Tigers’ forwards competed in the air and on the ground, creating too much havoc for the Rovers’ back six. McKee had high praise for his backline, and Zac Calvez in particular, for killing Hampton’s inside 50s.

Dan Hall’s major to open the last quarter opened the door again for the Rovers, but any thoughts of a comeback were quickly dispelled as St Bedes kicked five consecutive goals to close out the contest.

“Ben Goodchild, who has been tagging, got the better of [Lui] Coughlin … while Skinner, Rowe and Lepahmer were among our best again,” McKee said.

Hampton’s season is over after an impressive Premier C campaign that yielded 13 wins. Paul Carrigan’s side has no doubt improved out of sight after failing to record many victories last year

Fitzroy 8.5 (53) def by Parkdale Vultures 9.14 (68)

Parkdale have registered arguably their performance of the season, knocking off ladder-leaders and perennial winners Fitzroy by 15 points in the Qualifying Final at Marcellin College 1.

Having dropped only one game this season, Fitzroy were well-positioned to make a Grand Final appearance and were trending that way when they led by five points at three-quarter-time. However, Parkdale were able to seize the big moments in the final term, booting four goals to Fitzroy’s one to book their place in the Grand Final.

Earlier, Fitzroy led at every change, holding a lead of as much as 15 points at half-time to put themselves in a winning position. The usual names were doing the damage for the ‘Roys, with Charlie Faubel (two goals), Bill Clayton, Harry Kooloos and Anthony Johnson getting plenty of the football.

Momentum then shifted Parkdale’s way as they overhauled the 15-point half-time deficit. The Vultures were able to control possession in their forward half, kicking the next six scores of the game to level the margin with time-on remaining in the third term.

A late third-quarter goal from Fitzroy gave them some breathing space at the final break, leading the contest by one straight kick.

Just as Parkdale have done so frequently this season, the ball found its way into the hands of key forward Mitch Brown, who was highly influential in the Vultures’ final-term assault, finishing with three goals.

With a grand final spot on the line, Parkdale’s intensity lifted, forcing Fitzroy into some uncharacteristic errors. Those turnovers were punished by the visitors, who booted four consecutive majors to put the result beyond doubt.

Josh Ricco, Nathan Sullivan, Charlie Yee, Darcy Kelson and Jack Edwards were named among the best players on the ground for Parkdale.

Perhaps it is the loss Fitzroy needed to have after being near-flawless to date, while Parkdale will await their grand final opponent — the winner of the Preliminary Final.