After several years of heartache, South Morang is through to the Northern Football League division 3 grand final.
The Lions have had several near misses in the past few seasons, and this year they’ve gone one step further.
But it wasn’t without a fight. After their worst performance of the season, in a semi-final against Banyule, the Lions faced a determined Epping side in the preliminary final on Saturday.
The Lions won 8.14 (62)-8.6 (54).
Coach Gary Hall said it was a relief to finally get over the line in a finals match.
“You can say it didn’t play on their minds, the side not winning finals, but it did,” he said.
“We’re rapt to be there [the grand final].
“We’ve had one bad game in 13 or 14 weeks.”
Hall said Saturday’s match was one in which neither side could really gain control.
The Pingers held a five point lead at quarter-time, before the Lions kicked four goals to one to lead by 13 points at the main break.
After an even third quarter, the Lions still led by 12 points. The game finished the same way the first three quarters had played out – with nothing between the two sides.
“It was definitely tight and it might have blown out to a two-goal lead at some stages,” Hall said.
“It was always a close one and in this game it could have gone either way … we were able to find a little bit extra.”
Hall said skipper Mitch Buckley led by example and was best on ground. He said Liam Failla and Daniel Watson also had strong games, in a good team performance.
Anthony Capeci was the only multiple goal kicker for the Lions, with three goals.
The loss ends Epping’s hopes of a third straight grand final appearance.
Aaron Willitts kicked four goals for the Pingers, with Thomas Hughes named their best.
The Lions now face Banyule, the only side which has beaten them, in the grand final on Saturday at Whittlesea.
Hall said there could be several changes with Tye Hall, Mitch Dickson and Raafat Rachrache all expected to be available for selection.
Despite losing to Banyule in the semi-final, Hall takes confidence into the match knowing they defeated them during the season.
“Things look good when you are winning, he said. “You can overlook things. When you lose you look harder at what went wrong.
“We want to get into division 2.
“We now have the chance, we need to make the most of it.”
It was a mixed day for the Lions, with their reserves and under-19 teams both having losses.
The season is over for the reserves, but the under-19s have a second chance.
