“You have just done something special as a team … but the job’s not done,” Woodend-Hesket coach Josh Pound told his players after defeating Wallan in the Riddell League’s preliminary final on Saturday.
The Hawks were calm under pressure and took control in the second half to win by 21 points and set the stage for the 2023 Grand Final against a formidable Diggers Rest combination at Romsey this Sunday.
It will be Woodend-Hesket’s first senior football grand final appearance since 2007, and the club also has its A-grade netball side in the grand final, taking on Riddell.
Hawks co-presidents Paul Podbury and Anne-Louise Lindner are understandably proud of the performances of their teams, but are trying to keep a lid on expectations in the build-up to Sunday.
Gilbert Gordon Oval at Woodend promises to be a hive of activity this week, and the Hawks are anticipating huge crowd support on Sunday.
Top-of-the-ladder Diggers Rest is the only side the Hawks have not beaten this season, but they have taken heart from what they learnt in the home and away matches against the Burras, who ‘fell in’ in extra time in the semi-final against Wallan.
Nevertheless Diggers Rest will be favourites on Sunday, with an imposing list of quality players spread across the field. They are coached by premiership coach Jamie Lobb.
Mitch Jensen and Jaidyn Caruna are two players the Hawks will be trying to contain. Jensen kicked six goals in the semi-final against Wallan.
TEAM BONDING
Pound said the Hawks had a great bonding dinner last week in the lead-up to the preliminary final at Romsey, and the mindset was that they didn’t want to be satisfied with just making a preliminary final; now the grand final is almost here.
Avoiding costly slow starts was a very high priority for the Hawks, and they were determined to make amends for losses by two points, then seven points, in recent cashes with Wallan.
Selectors had to replace the injured Tom Gawthrop and Nathan Minns from the lineup, which eliminated Romsey by three points, but the Hawks have plenty of depth, illustrated by their Reserves making the preliminary final, and losing to Diggers Rest extra time.
The Hawks crossed the first hurdle by outscoring Wallan three goals to one in the first quarter on Sunday.
Then the Magpies kept the Hawks scoreless in the second term and it was a deficit of four points at half-time. All players were in one half of the ground at one stage as Woodend-Hesket tried desperately to stem the tide.
After the half-time siren sounded a large melee broke out involving the majority of the players on the ground, with umpires taking some time to restore order.
Wallan’s failure to kick any goals in the second and third terms, with seemingly easy chances going astray, spurred on the methodical Hawks, who went into the last quarter with a lead of 14 points.
“Keep the ball short” was the message from playing coach Pound and this tactic worked to perfection.
Quick goals to Jack Arceri and captain Al Rae, who marked strongly up forward, gave the Hawks a buffer. Defenders and on-ballers stood up under pressure.
Wallan finally managed two goals, but the Hawks showed ample composure and their supporters were very vocal well before final siren time.
Woodend-Hesket 9.6 (68) defeated Wallan 5.9 (39).
After the match Pound singled out Rae and young defender Tobi Duff-Tytler for a special mention for their efforts.
He reflected on the specially tough week for the club and community, and said the team leaders had stood up when it mattered
Arceri, who kicked three goals, number one ruckman Tim Martin, Duff-Tytler, Dean Bramley, Ben Toman and Kyle Baker were listed as the Hawks’ best.
GALLANT EFFORT IN RESERVES
In the Reserves’ preliminary final, Woodend-Hesket was outplayed early, then produced an outstanding second quarter to lead at the long interval.
Well into the last term the Hawks were seven points up, but the Burras produced a ‘poster’ and a goal to tie the scores, thus requiring two five-minute sessions to decide the outcome.
Diggers Rest kicked a point and a goal, then shut up shop to eventually win 6.11 (47) to 6.2 (38).
Remarkably, there was also extra time required in the seniors’ preliminary final, and in the A-grade netball preliminary final between Riddell and Macedon on Saturday.
Wallan and Diggers Rest meet in the Reserves grand final on Sunday.
