Tara Murray
South Morang is hoping its third time lucky in the Northern Football League division 3 competition.
The Lions have made at least the preliminary final every year since 2014, including two grand finals, but are yet to win a premiership.
They made it a third grand final in four years, with victory against Old Eltham Collegians on Saturday in the preliminary final.
The Lions were dominant throughout the match, winning 15.14 (104)-9.5 (59).
Lions coach Gary Hall said they were hoping that this year would finally be their year.
“Hopefully it’s third time lucky,” he said. “We keep knocking on the door and sooner or later we have to knock it down.
“We’re excited to be back there, it’s been a long time coming since 2019 [the last full season before COVID].
“Hopefully we can make the most of it.”
Hall said the performance against the Turtles was completely different to their loss in the first week of finals to Laurimar.
He said they were disappointing against the Power, but on Saturday it was a much better performance.
“On the weekend it was a different ball game,” he said. “We got off to a fast start and they never looked like heading us.”
Benjamin Peterson and Jake Potter kicked three goals each for the Lions in the win.
Hall said the backline was really strong as it had been all year, while Liam Jolly who stepped up in the ruck in the absence of two other ruckman.
He said Peterson and Potter both had good games as well.
The Lions now face Laurimar in the grand final this Saturday.
Hall said even though they didn’t play well against the Power in the first final, there were only a couple of scoring shots different.
“Going by results, I don’t think there will be much in it,” he said. “It should be a good grand final.”
In division 1, Bundoora will face Heidelberg for a spot in the grand final.
The Bulls beat Montmorency 11,3 (69)-9.6 (60) in its qualifying final on Saturday.
