Two Blues advance to preliminary final
CALL is gritty, it certainly wasn’t pretty and at times it was downright ugly.
But Prahran survived a last quarter challenge to advance to next weekend’s VAFA Division 1 preliminary final with a seven point win over Oakleigh at the Kennedy Community Centre on Sunday.
The last quarter was a torturous watch for the Prahran fans.
After Oakleigh kicked a point in the opening stanza, Prahran responded with a goal from Ollie Burke and was never headed for the rest of the match.
But that doesn't tell the full story.
In a low scoring contest the Two Blues controlled the first half kicking the first five goals of the match with their intensity stunning Oakleigh which went into the game warm favourite on the evidence of wins in both home and away clashes.
Oakleigh’s sole goal for the first half was courtesy of a downfield penalty 25 minutes into the second quarter.
But gradually the Krushers worked their way into the match.
From late in the second quarter until late in the last quarter Oakleigh added 4-6 while Prahran remained scoreless.
At the 21 minute mark Oakleigh converted from a mark to tie the scores 5-3 to 4-9 and the Krushers had all the momentum.
Matthew Clifford ended the scoring drought with a snap for a point and then came the most telling passage of play all day.
Liam Hepburn, superb in defence all day, found Harrison Cook whose long shot was marked 15m out by skipper Rory Brodie.
He was never going to miss and maintained his long distance approach to duly deliver a seven point lead at the 24 minute mark which was effectively game over.
Brodie was a powerhouse all day in a game that proved to be a tackle fest from the opening.
This was a tactical win for the Two Blues who went into the game with a plan to control the tempo with uncontested possessions.
It may have been frustrating to watch for some but the Two Blues totalled 99 uncontested kicks which frustrated Oakleigh.
Defence has been the Two Blues ace in the pack all season and under the heat of finals intensity rose to another level.
The die was cast in the first 10 minutes when the ball lived in Oakleigh’s forward half for a return of just one point. When Burke goaled after a chain of passes and Jackson Partridge added another three minutes later the Two Blues had a handy lead against the trend of play.
Brodie marked and goaled early in the second quarter, then Riley Hogan brilliantly intercepted a kick standing on the mark and ran into an open goal followed and a goal to Harrison Cook after a centre clearance from Tom Selleck put the Two Blues in control.
Going into the game Oakleigh’s key forwards Rogan Kitts and Elliot Black with 122 goals between them for the season loomed as the match winners.
But the Two Blues key pillars Pat Ribbands and Jayden Williams were simply outstanding keeping their opponents to a zero return.
There were several other heroes such as Burke who was relentless with his tackling and winning clearances assisted by Mackenzie Mayne, minimising the fact chief play maker Pat Marks was unwell,
The Two Blues now meet Kew in the preliminary final.
PRAHRAN 2-0 5-3 5-3 6-4 (40)
OAKLEIGH 0-3 1-4 2-6 4-9 (33)
Goals. Brodie 2, Cook, Hogan, Partridge, Burke,
Best. Ollie Burke, Patrick Ribbands, Mackenzie Mayne, Rory Brodie, Jayden Williams, Tom Selleck
RESERVES
UNFORTUNATE end to a great season by the Reserves under coach Jackson Partridge who fell short against St Mary’s.
After scoring two goals in the first quarter, the Two Blues added just one more for the game while St Mary’s gradually took control.
Prahran’s playing resources were fully tested with late injures to senior players telling. By contrast St Mary’s was able to use senior level players who had qualified.
PRAHRAN 2-0 2-0 3-0 3-2 (20)
St Mary’s 2-4 3-5 6-6 7-8 (50)
Best. Taz Spinks, Nicholas Phimister, Ben Burrows, Max Howden, Angus Perez, Tully Loomes