Sport
14 August, 2026
Trio back triumphant
SELECTION night told the tale of the Inglewood versus Newbridge clash, with the Blues able to bring in a host of key players.
SELECTION night told the tale of the Inglewood versus Newbridge clash, with the Blues able to bring in a host of key players.
Top goalkicker Mischa Fraillon and fellow forward Dan Godden were back, along with coach Jackson Hood in defence.
The Maroons, on the other hand, were able to select coach Jayden Cordy despite an injured wrist but otherwise had to rely on elevated reserves players with the club putting a focus on its finals bound Under 18 side.
Newbridge had plenty of the ball early in the contest but failed to make the most of its opportunities.
Inglewood’s goalkicking was somewhat astray – the Blues kicked 15.18 for the day – but once the midfield of Liam Marciano and Bregon Cotchett took control, the Maroons were left chasing tail.
Despite having no players available on the bench in the last quarter, Newbridge fought bravely to the end, kicking two goals to the Woodies’ four in that term.
Cordy, who played an outside role in defence rather than his usual midfield bull job, said “with the cattle we have at the moment, you can’t knock the boys’ efforts.
“They kept working hard and kept trying.”
The Maroons’ undersized defence, with key backmen Jon Coe and Jackson Hufer sidelined, did a decent job against an Inglewood forward line that had a powerful mix of tall and small attackers.
Jockey-sized Fraillon kicked four for Inglewood, but he was nowhere near 100 per cent fit, limping heavily all day.
Cotchett, by contrast, was back in top form after battling with a badly bruised ankle a week earlier in the narrow loss to Maiden Gully, forming a potent combination with Liam Marciano.
Veteran ruckman Tom Kennedy, who was in the wars early after copping a ball to the back of the head, was shifted forward in the last quarter, and kicked a goal from a ground-ball get rather than a strong mark, much to the delight of his teammates.
The win guaranteed fourth spot on the ladder for the Woodies, who will play either Macorna or Maiden Gully in the elimination final to be played at Pyramid Hill.
Inglewood travels to Bears Lagoon Serpentine for the final round, with Newbridge on the road to face the Bulldogs.
- GARY WALSH
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