Whitefriars running power secures promotion & Grand Final berth – Division 2 Men’s Preliminary Final Review

Whitefriars 15.15 (105) def MHSOB 12.9 (81)

Whitefriars booked a spot in the Grand Final as they defeated MHSOB to cement their place in Division 1 next season.

The first quarter was a high-scoring affair with Whitefriars kicking five goals and five behinds while MHSOB kicked four goals straight.

“There was a pretty heavy wind to that end of the ground,” Whitefriars coach Andrew Daou said.

“We adjusted really quickly which was good, but we didn’t fully capitalise on our opportunities whilst they fully took their chances.”

The two sides traded goals early in the second before the Unicorns kicked three in a row through star forwards Matthew Pereira and Luca Di Lallo.

The Friars were able to respond with two late goals as they took a two-point lead into half-time.

“We were really big on contest, which is where we found some ascendancy and momentum in the second quarter,” MHSOB coach Sean Lester said.

“Unfortunately, our inability to sustain that meant Whitefriars kicked two late before half-time which had a big swing on the energy of the game.”

With the game in the balance, both coaches fancied their chances at the half.

“At half-time, effectively level, I thought we were in the box seat… We hadn’t played anywhere near our best, largely due to Whitefriars’ pressure, and if we’d been able to control the footy and make them chase, I thought we could’ve worked our way on top,” Lester said.

“We felt we were on top and honestly probably unlucky to not be further ahead… We know our fitness and running power is the best in the comp so if we stuck to what we had been doing, the game will eventually break for us,” Daou said.

Whitefriars produced a strong third quarter kicking three goals to one while also registering eight behinds as they increased their lead to 21 points at three-quarter-time.

“Our front half pressure was huge, we didn’t allow them any easy exits, and everything was rushed… This allowed us to set up the ground and really lock the ball in our half for the quarter, again not fully capitalising and leaving the door ajar,” Daou said.

Both teams hit the scoreboard in the fourth, but the Unicorns were unable to get within two goals of Whitefriars as they ran out 24-point winners.

“Our composure to stay level-headed when they scored was great, it gave us the ability to score as we didn’t feel panicked or rushed,” Daou said.

“We stuck to our plans, our structure and knew our running power, even against the wind was going to carry us home.”

Whitefriars will now face Power House in the Grand Final, a rematch of the semi-final that saw Power House run out 13-point winners.

“The promotion is great, but means nothing to us without the premiership,” Daou said. “One word: redemption.”