Cranbourne proved it pays to be in front when it matters, as they powered back from a 24 point quarter time deficit to hit the front and hold on by a point in the Division One Grand Final.
Knox led for 78 of the 80 minutes played, but Hayley Wildes – who kicked four goals – would ultimately have the final say, putting the Eagles in front with two minutes to go.
Knox were able to hit the scoreboard early as a result of winning the toss and getting the opportunity to kick with the wind. Cassandra Papodopolous was a beneficiary of Cranbourne ill-discipline, converting a free kick to open the scoring, with Alison Downie also scoring as a result of a 25 metre penalty.
Despite kicking clear early on, the Falcons were unable to make their countless opportunities matter, thanks to the work of the Eagles' Danielle Hardiman, later adjudged best on ground. Hardiman repelled many of the Falcons' countless attacks in the opening quarter, preventing the Falcons from extending their lead until later in the quarter.
Papadopolous finally extended Knox's lead, converting from close range. At the next centre bounce, Cranbourne finally registered their first inside 50 – 18 minutes in. However, reflecting the status of the quarter, the Falcons were able to sweep the ball from one end to the other, ending the quarter with a miracle Emily McIlvina snap from the boundary line to give Knox a four goal quarter time lead.
Cranbourne needed a response to open the second and Wildes was the girl to provide it when she converted from a centre break 30 seconds in to get Cranbourne into the game. In fact, they would pepper the goals in the same fashion Knox would in the opening quarter, but only had two goals from 10 shots to show for it. Wildes was the beneficiary of the second goal, finishing off Tamara Tomamichel's good work on the boundary line.
Four points up at half time, Knox needed to hit the scoreboard with authority to give themselves a buffer big enough to withstand the inevitable Cranbourne charge. The game was still played at the Harding Street end in the third quarter, with Chanelle Slater and McIlvina extending Knox's lead to 17 points.
Finally, a cherished goal was scored to the Bell Street end through Cara Moody – a huge goal in the context of the game – before Julia Baker restored the Knox lead heading into three quarter time.
Both teams attacked the final quarter hard, with the crowd lifting around them. Cranbourne were continuing to do all the attacking, and were rewarded when Bianca Jakobsson scored from a silly Knox 25 metre penalty.
But it was Wildes who had the final say. She kicked her third from a neat snap, before her fourth sailed through with minimal time left, breaking Knox hearts.
Cranbourne FC 0.0 2.8 3.8 6.9 (45)
Knox FC 4.0 4.0 7.2 7.2 (44)
GOALS:
Cranbourne FC: Wildes 4 Moody Jakobsson
Knox FC: Mcilvena 2 Papadopoulos 2 Downie Slater Baker
BEST:
Cranbourne FC: Hardiman Cullis Fennell Jakobsson Moody Wildes
Knox FC: Crockett-Grills Kuys Slater Dempsey Papadopoulos Harrison
By Michael Thompson
Last Modified on 18/09/2015 10:29