1st Preliminary Final - Carisbrook v Navarre
Carisbrook has suffered a shock exit from the Bendigo Bank MCDFNL finals series after being bundled out of Saturday's preliminary final against Navarre.
The Grasshoppers upset the previously unbeaten Redbacks at Princes Park by four points in Saturday's prelim, 13.12 (90) to 13.8 (86).
The Redbacks looked destined for another grand final appearance in the first half, taking a 13-point lead into the third quarter before the Grasshoppers hit back in the third term, led by Sam Robertson, who made a switch from defence to the forward line to great effect.
With Grasshoppers tagger Brian Lovison limiting the influence of Carisbrook playmaker Matt Bilton, Navarre stormed home with an eight-goal second half.
Ben Scott again played a key role in the Hoppers' victory, slotting five goals, while Robertson booted three. Carisbrook star forward Nathan Wright managed to slot four majors from limited supply, but he was the Redbacks' only multiple goalkicker.
Lovison, Josh Driscoll, Rhett Murphy and Nick Murphy were the Grasshoppers' best, while defenders Jay Anderson, Clayton Furniss, coach Luke Treacy and utility Pat Jenes were the Redbacks' best.
Navarre will now face Lexton in Saturday's grand final, while the Redbacks will be left to rue the one that got away.
2nd Preliminary Final - Newstead v Navarre
Lexton produced a surprising result when they finished stronger over Newstead on Sunday to win their way into the 2013 Bendigo Bank Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League Grand Final.
After a 130 point defeat at the hands of CarIsbrook in the Qualifying Final a fortnight ago, the Tigers were expected to bow out of the finals race in the early stages, but now find themselves in a Grand Final contest with Navarre next week, and one of the former Lexton Plains teams will win their first premiership in the MCDFNL.
The Preliminary final result was a very disappointing finish to the season for Newstead as they seemed to be in control of the game early, but could not quite put the Tigers away.
The run of Sam Kerr was proving difficult for Lexton to stop and with three early goals in the second term, the Steaders were out to a 29 point lead at the six minute mark, but the Tigers answered the challenge and goals to Matt Brown and Cohan Poulton just before half time had reduced the margin to just 13 points at the main break,
Newstead again kicked three early goals in the third term via some strong contested work from Nathan Webster who played a part in all three goals, and there could quite easily have been another had a shot from the bullocking onballer, not been just touched on the line by Tigers defender, Lewis Alexopolous. However it was at this point in the game that Lexton started to run the Steaders off their feet with Damon Aspland and Jimmy Templeton in particular both coming under notice and they finished the quarter full of run and kicked five goals including two to Matt Brown in the dying stages to go into the final quarter just two points in arrears.
Both sides entered the final term full of nervous energy which resulted in a number of turnovers from both teams. Newstead seemed to go defensive and moved Mark Ramsey down back to try and counter Matthew Brown who kicked six goals for the game and was proving to be a difficult opponent for the Newstead defenders.
It was a very exciting final term and both teams missed opportunities to score until Lexton Coach Paul Phillips managed to snap truly to put the Tigers in front at the ten minute mark.
This was followed soon after by a goal to Rob Mosby after intercepting a kick from Mark Ramsey and the Tigers led by 7 points.
Newstead then found some inner strength and continued to drive forward but could not find the big sticks as Tom Reece missed an opportunity, as did Daniel Christmas and then Ethan Ford had the chance to steal the lead back, but his shot was wide. The Tigers then ran the ball forward and Rob Mosby outpointed Joe Park in a marking contested in the goal square and the dynamic forward kicked the sealer in the very exciting dying stages of the game to give Lexton a ten point victory and entry into the 2013 MCDFNL Grand Final.
Last Modified on 17/09/2013 11:53