The crowd sensed that the Northern Football League division 2 game between Lalor and Thomastown would be special and they weren’t wrong.
With the biggest crowd in at least four years at Lalor Reserve, two teams with a long rivalry didn’t disappoint, with Lalor causing a 17.14 (116) – 13.13 (91) upset.
Trailing at quarter-time and three-quarter time, the Bloods were always confident they could match it with the previously undefeated Bears.
Lalor president Rodney Lowry said the win was massive for the club.
“We are now in second spot on the ladder and if we had lost we would have been fifth,” he said.
While many people would have thought the game was over at quarter-time, with the Bloods down by 34 points – Lowry and the team knew better.
“There was a six- to seven-goal wind and we made the most of it in the second quarter,” he said.
“The big thing for us was not letting them get away in the third quarter when they had the wind. At three-quarter time, we were confident we could get the win as we were kicking with the breeze.”
Lowry said the key to winning against the under-strength Bears was stopping star forward Matthew Ferraro.
“Jason Dowell did a marvellous job and held him to three goals,” Lowry said. “Nick Mafilovski, in his first game of the season, was really good for us and kicked four goals. Even though they had several players out they have a strong second side and players who can step up.”
He said a good home-ground atmosphere had been lacking in recent years.
“It was like it was 20 years ago and the crowd got right behind us,” he said of the weekend’s match. “It was a massive day all round.”
The Bears remain on top of the ladder.
In other games, Whittlesea lost to Hurstbridge 14.18 (102) -12.15 (87) and Mernda lost to Diamond Creek 12.16 (88) – 4.9 (33).
Bundoora made it two wins in a row in division 1.
In another close game for the Bulls, they held on in the last quarter to win 13.16 (94) – 12.17 (89).
In division 3, Epping won a one-point thriller against Watsonia while South Morang smashed St Marys by 106 points.
