Two Blues Comeback Win Earns Grand Final Berth

Prahran Assumption Reserves will play Williamstown CYMS in the preliminary final on Sunday September 7 at 11.40 am at the Trevor Barker Oval, Sandringham.

The Two Blues passed their first hurdle on the way to a grand final when they led at every change and stalled off a late bid from Old Geelong to win the first semi-final on Sunday by eight points.
  
The first semi-final was always going to be a battle of attrition given the windy conditions.
  
Goals were hard to come by so two first quarter conversions from Jon Rice kicking into the stiff cross wind were telling.

The Two Blues threatened to split the game open in the second quarter when Rice added two more and Tom Candy and Rick Ellis goaled but Old Geelong hit back late in the quarter to narrow the margin to seven points at half-time.

Ellis kicked two goals in the third quarter, one from beyond 50m from a free-kick, while the Two Blues 'gifted' goals to Old Geelong from free kicks.

The last quarter proved a real arm wrestle with the Two Blues only goal coming from Michael Radywonik after a somewhat fortunate free-kick in the goal square to seemingly make the game safe.

But Old Geelong, the standard setter in Reserves football in recent seasons, hit back again with a goal and a poster deep in time-on before the siren sounded. 

As co coach Ash Parsons told his players post match finals wins are not handed out on a platter and the Two Blues needed all their resolve to prevail despite being the dominant team most of the day. 

For the Two Blues Brett Kenny, Sam Durnan and Tim Webb were outstanding in defence, Hunter Watkin and Josh Hogarth were creative while Aran O'Hare held sway in the ruck.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 2-2  6-4. 8-8 9-10 (64)

OLD GEELONG.                 1-3.  5-3. 7-4. 8-8 (56)

Goals: Rice 4, Ellis 3, Radywonik, T Candy.

Best: Ellis, Watkin, J Hogarth, O'Hare, Webb.