Chris Yeend
The Sunbury Kangaroos are one step closer to their second straight grand final after they defeated Diggers Rest by 14 points in the qualifying final at the J.J Clancy Reserve in Kilmore on Saturday. The weather was perfect and the ground was in ideal condition as the top two finishers of the home and away season faced off in an intense match.
REVENGE
Diggers Rest was pipped at the post by the Sunbury Kangaroos in the final round of the home and away season the previous week. A Col Laurie miss after the siren ensured that they finished the year with their second loss of the season and gave Sunbury Kangaroos a bit more of an edge heading into the final.
BIG CHANGES
The Burras welcomed back onballer Michael Hildebrand for his first game of the season after missing through injury while Dan McCabe, Andrew Page and midfielder Cam Woods were welcome additions. Brenton Sutherland was a handy inclusion for the Roos and would provide great versatility across half-back as the day went on.
VERY SLOW START
Diggers Rest started the game in sparkling fashion as they won the opening centre clearance, sent the ball long and Col Laurie was awarded a free kick for a high tackle 30 metres out, dead in front. Haunted by his previous kick in the round 18 game, his shot faded and registered a minor score. He had a second chance just a minute later as he snapped around the body and kicked a point to put the Burras ahead by two points. Sunbury's Leigh Fishendon won a free kick in the right forward pocket and missed at the nine-minute mark at the other end. These would be the only three scores for the term as the ball travelled from one half-forward line to the other in a titanic battle. Cam Woods and Craig Marshall was strong early for the Burras. Sunbury's Phil Kaufmann showed plenty of promise up forward as he was first to every contest and won lots of contested ball.
TUCKEY MAGIC
It was de ja vu for Col Laurie as he kicked another minor score in the opening minute to start the second term. Brent Tuckey broke the deadlock for Diggers Rest with the opening goal of the game at the three-minute mark with a shot from over his head five metres out at the club rooms' end, to put his team up by nine points. Teammate Col Laurie got the monkey off his back as he shook off his opponent and bounced inside the forward 50 to goal from 30 metres out to blow the margin out to 13 points at the 11-minute mark. The Roos were wasteful in front of goals as they kicked five points before Meacham jagged a goal in the goal square at the 23-minute mark to bring the margin back to five points. They could have taken the lead if the ever-improving Jason King and Lucas Dowson kicked truly. Sunbury backman Bob Johnson was a stand-out with at least six contested marks all over the ground. Diggers Rest led by three points.
GOAL AVALANCHE
With Jamie Cuffe and Leigh Fishendon pushing forward, Dan Gregory keeping Brent Tuckey at bay at centre half-back and Brenton Sutherland looking dangerous, it was up to Diggers Rest's onballers to dominate at ground level, and they did. Craig Marshall kicked the opening goal of the second half in the second minute thanks to a free kick to extend the margin and teammate Cam Woods threw his weight around in the midfield to put the pressure on the Roos onballers. Tuckey goaled on the run for his second at the four-minute mark and the Burras were switched on. Fishendon marked and kicked truly at the other end just moments later but nothing could stop the Burras dominance. Tom Evans showed some brilliance as he gathered the ball at right half-forward, took on several opponents and kicked truly to extend the lead back to 15 points. Enter Phil Kaufmann for the Sunbury Kangaroos. If there ever was a time for a young forward to make an impact in a final, this was it. His efforts in the first term saw his confidence boost in the third. He marked and kicked truly three times in seven minutes to turn the game in favour of the Sunbury Kangaroos to lead by three points at the 21-minute mark of the term in a stunning display. Mark Freeth's mark and goal in the shadows of three-quarter-time put the margin back out to three points at the final change for the minor premiers.
ROOS DOMINATE AND CELEBRATE
Brent Tuckey opened up the final term with his third goal for Diggers Rest at the two-minute mark to extend the lead to nine points. This would be the last of the Burras joy as the Sunbury Kangaroos took ownership of the final quarter. Meacham kicked his second for the Roos in the goal square at the 13-minute mark, Sutherland goaled five minutes later before Ryan Hatty kicked the sealer at the 20-minute mark to send the lead out to 14 points. Sunbury celebrated a remarkable 14-point win in a hard-fought arm-wrestle between two evenly-matched sides. Diggers Rest will take on Riddell at Riddell on Sunday and that game can be heard on 100.7 Highlands FM from 1.30pm.
Last Modified on 04/09/2012 17:41