INGLEWOOD’S wild ride through the Loddon Valley football finals came to a crushing end against Marong on Saturday, but the Woodies’ thrilling efforts lit up the season action.
The Panthers took advantage of a strong breeze at Calivil to storm to a seven-goal lead that effectively ended the preliminary final by quarter-time.
To their credit, the Woodies got within 13 points halfway through the second quarter, but against battle-hardened Marong it was always likely to be an impossible task to recover.
A team chasing its fourth flag on the trot was just too strong for a young side taking its club deeper into the finals than it had been for more than 20 years.
The 61-point win was emphatic, with six goals to none after half-time providing an ideal tune up for the Panthers for the grand final against Bridgewater.
Kain Robins, despite some unusually wayward set shots, and fellow forwards Shaun Knott and Ryley Taylor all contributed multiple goals.
The Panther midfield was dominant even through the ruck contests were probably halved over the course of the match, with Inglewood’s Tom Kennedy battling bravely against Michael Bradbury and Matt Willox.
Lachie Lee, Ben Gregg, Jimmy Gadsden and Ben and Corey Gregg controlled the centre of the ground, where Woodies star Bregon Cotchett was unable to exert his usual influence.
Harry Veitch completed an outstanding finals series for Inglewood as the team’s best player three weeks in a row.
Coach Fergus Payne said the wind was a crucial factor.
“We knew the wind was going to play a part on the day, and they got the jump on us,” he said.
“The experience of their team and their ability to execute under pressure held them in good stead.”
Marong co-coach Kain Robins said his team was aware that Inglewood’s first quarters had not been a strength throughout the season, and winning the toss to take advantage of the wind had proved decisive in the outcome of the match.