ANYONE who paid $12 and sat or stood at the northern end of Malone Park on Sunday might be excused for asking for some of their money back.
For probably 95 per cent of the last quarter of the Inglewood versus Pyramid Hill first semi-final, the ball lived far away, deep inside the Woodies’ forward line.
Trailing by nine points at the last change, the Bulldogs initially were shaky in defence, with two errant kicks ending up in the hands of Inglewood players.
Fortunately for Pyramid, there was little damage from the poor kicks – one from a mark on the goal line and the other from a kick out – with Daniel Polack and Kai Cavallaro both scoring behinds.
When the ball was swept up the other end, full-forward Ben Bissett goaled from a snap after a marking contest.
The margin was less than a goal, and there was a hint that the Bulldogs were going to storm home.
However, the Woodies had different ideas and poured on seven goals to nothing for the rest of the quarter.
Centre breaks went virtually all one way – usually thanks to Bregon Cotchett and Harry Veitch’s clearance skills – and rare Bulldog attacks were quickly snuffed out. 
Inglewood coach Fergus Payne said he had confidence in his team given their history of strong finishes.
“I told the boys at three-quarter time to enjoy themselves and give it everything they had.”
They delivered in spades.
Payne said that three years ago when the Woodies last made the finals only three players were aged 26 or over, with the rest mostly aged from 18-21.
“Now we have guys who are 24, 25,” he said, players who were experienced and at the peak of their careers.
The Bulldogs kicked the first three goals of the match and looked too sharp for their opponents.
But Inglewood fought back and the teams traded goals for the rest of the first term, with Pyramid Hill leading by 12 points. Three goals to one saw the Woodies in front by a point at half-time, and when Liam Marciano goaled, Payne booted two goals and handballed to Seb Erharter for another, they were 24 points to the good early in the third.
The Bulldogs had to respond – and they did with three goals in three minutes, including a kick from beyond 50m by Kai Daniels.
It took a fine contested mark from Tynan Hywood to get Inglewood back on track, and for the rest of the quarter the Woodies were under siege, but Pyramid Hill missed a string of gettable chances.
It was the last gasp for the Dogs, who exit the season in straight sets.
Coach Nathan Fitzpatrick, who stepped down after the loss, said the final quarter was a microcosm of the team’s season.
“We were unable to halt the momentum when it was against us,” he said.
“Ultimately our downfall was not personnel – it was all about connection, without being able to train together.”
Fitzpatrick said the tyranny of distance would always be a problem for the Bulldogs.
- GARY WALSH