General News
22 August, 2024
Redbacks say see you again Saturday
By GARY WALSH KICKING five goals to one in the last quarter against a winless team might not seem like the best preparation for the Loddon Valley football final series. So was Newbridge foxing in the final term of its clash with Mitiamo last...
By CHRIS EARL
WEDDERBURN’S desperate and dynamic defenders have delivered.
The Redbacks’ superiority over Donald in last Saturday’s crucial encounter was not in doubt, even if it was challenged.
Coach Tom Metherell epitomised the drive needed for a victory to play finals.
His dashes off the backline generated excitement in the midfield and up forward. Metherell and club stalwarts Danny Benaim and Adam Postle were tackling ferociously in the dramatic final term when Donald had an early slender lead. Josh DeAraugo was also in the thick of battle.
They went the spoil, nullifying Royals’ ruckman Andrew Browne who had been key for Donald all day.
Browne had the measure of Wedderburn’s Jordy Hargreaves in the first half but in the final term, Hargreaves was part of the team that proved it deserved to play finals and have another crack at Donald in this Saturday’s first semi-final.
While the game was a battle of defence for much of the day, forwards were also in the action. Some goals came after free kicks were awarded to both sides. In the case of Donald, the added advantage of 50 metre penalties guaranteed Donald’s two second quarter goals.
Noah Furlong was dashing the midfield from the opening bounce and finished with two goals for Wedderburn. Tom Campbell and Mitchell McEwen also slotted through pairs. It was McEwan’s second major near the 15-minute mark of the fourth that put Wedderburn into the box seat.
Oscar Holt also finished with two although his major contributions came between the wing and half forward with smart kicks to better positioned team mates.
Ross Young’s three goals for Donald had him again in the side’s best.
Wedderburn had the scoreboard lead most of the day. Donald did hit the front before quarter time as rain fell and outscored Wedderburn in the third quarter but apart from taking the lead briefly in the final term, there was an air that Wedderburn would be playing finals. The Redbacks now take that psychological edge into the first semi-final.