General News
12 September, 2024
Let it hurt! Best to come for Redbacks
WEDDERBURN battled for 15 minutes to gain the upper hand over Sea Lake Nandaly in Saturday’s North Central league preliminary final. It would be another 80 minutes before the Redbacks showed they can have the measure of any side in the league...
WEDDERBURN battled for 15 minutes to gain the upper hand over Sea Lake Nandaly in Saturday’s North Central league preliminary final.
It would be another 80 minutes before the Redbacks showed they can have the measure of any side in the league.
A stirring final quarter that was battled gallantly by both sides saw Wedderburn outscore its fancied opponents and bridge the final margin to 32 points.
The Redbacks’ season was over. The loss hurt and first-year coach wanted players to feel the hurt after the loss..
He told them them straight after the game the best was still to come.
Metherell, who had been a dashing presence in defence all day, praised the tight-knit team for what had been achieved in a season that saw the Redbacks on the road for two months while Donaldson Park’s upgrade was completed, battled injuries and pushed for inject consistency in a game play where they dictated terms.
When they had the upper hand in the preliminary final, the Redbacks were able to replicate some of the form that saw it keep in touch with the top for all season and account for Donald in successive weeks to finish the home and away season in third spot.
Hamish Lockhart was one whose season showed improvement, capped off by being named the Redbacks’ best on Saturday. Skipper Joe Lockhart was also bobbing up in the mix as Weddeburn struggled to negate the influence of Wade Donnan and Jackson McMahon who finished the day with five goals.
Jordan Hargreaves matched opponents in the ruck in what had been his most consistent season since winning the Feeny Medal three years ago.
There was a glimmer of hope when Junior Miller snapped a goal as the siren was sounding for half time.
A stunning fourth-quarter screamer by Danny Benaim, the oldest player on the ground, was a spark as Wedderburn refused to stop in the final minutes.
Benaim played a direct hand in Oscar Holt’s two goals for the day. Tommy Campbell was not on the goalkicking list. But it took two and three Tigers to diminish his influence.
When Sea Lake needed spark, crucially in the third term, it came from Thomas Cox who kicked two goals for the day. It was the term when the Tigers punished every mistake made by Wedderburn.
Darcy Jackson was another of the good players for Wedderburn. But there was no doubt that Metherell was in the Redbacks’ top handful across four quarters.