A lightning intercept and running goal by alert teenager Oliver Watt in a tense last quarter was decisive in Woodend-Hesket scraping home by three points against Romsey in a knockout Riddell League semi-final on Sunday.
Outplayed in the first half by a rampant Romsey, the Hawks revived in the third quarter to monopolise the ball and establish a lead of two points at the last change.
After the game, emotional Woodend-Hesket playing coach Josh Pound told players and supporters the Hawks had been able to win despite adversity off and on the field.
This reference was to the fatal road accident overnight that claimed the life of a young man with very close family connections to the club (players wore black arm bands as a mark of respect).
Pound individualised about what some Hawks had done in the pressure-packed match at Gilbert Gordon Reserve.
“We have the ability to go further,” he assured the team, which has to recover in a six-day break to take on Wallan in this Saturday’s preliminary final.
Prior to Sunday, the Hawks had not won a finals match since 2008, so it is new territory for the club, which lost to Wallan by seven points in the qualifying final.
The tight finish on Sunday continued a remarkable trend in this season’s finals: Romsey knocked out Riddell by five points, Woodend-Hesket lost by seven points, and 10 minutes extra time was needed after scores were tied at siren time in the high-scoring Diggers Rest versus Wallan second semi-final on Saturday.
Romsey coach Justin Sherman was extremely pleased with his side’s start to the match, with players using the ball well and generating numerous attacks, which yielded 4.5 to 1.1.
The Redbacks began the match before a large crowd in ideal sunny conditions with ace forward Jack Jedwab kicked a long goal from a mark; he marked on the goal line and converted again for his side’s second goal.
After the match, Pound praised Tayte Pears, former Essendon defender, for his role when switched on to the dangerous Romsey forward.
Woodend-Hesket rallied in the second term, but the Redbacks went to half-time with a lead of 17 points, and plenty of confidence.
BIG TURNAROUND
The third term was a turnaround in fortune, with the Hawks finding a way to win the ball and create scoring opportunities; at one stage virtually every player was in one half of the ground as the Redbacks tried to stop the home side’s momentum.
With confidence growing, and big ruckman Tim Martin again proving his worth, the Hawks scored 3.3 to lead by two points at the last change.
It was anyone’s match, and desperation football ensued with the noise level from spectators on both sides increasing.
Points instead of goals were agonisingly close at both ends; key forward Tom Gawthop narrowly missed twice from set shots for the Hawks.
Finally the stalemate was broken, with Watt – the youngest player in the side – ‘stealing’ the ball from a short pass and ramming home the Hawks only goal for the quarter.
Corey Pertzel, good all match, weaved his way through for a Romsey goal, and the countdown to siren time with both sides needing a goal – which never came.
Woodend-Hesket prevailed 9.9 (63) to 8.12 (60). The Redbacks being restricted to just 1.5 in the second half.
Best players for the Hawks were listed as Martin, Cody Bowen, Tobi Duff-Tytler, Alistair Rae, Daniel Toman and Baker, while the Redbacks had Pertzel, Ben Way, Jax Kinnear and Nathan Tessari, Chris Petroro and Jedwab on their list.
Romsey had all three sides in the finals, and has plenty of young talent for the future.
Earlier, Woodend Reserves worked hard to oust Romsey by 22 points – staunch defender Justin Rodda played his 250th game for the Hawks.
In the Under 19.5 encounter, Wallan eliminated Romsey by a margin of 19 points.
