By Tara Murray
The Calder Cannons held their nerve to seal a win against Tasmania in the wildcard round of the NAB League.
Having lost to Tasmania by one point earlier in the season, the Cannons were hoping to get some revenge to keep their season alive.
They did it the hard way, coming from behind at three-quarter time.
The Cannons kicked the first three goals of the last quarter, to win 9.9 (63)-7.15 (57).
Cannons coach Ross Smith said that while it wasn’t their best game, it was good to come away with the win.
“I wouldn’t have thought that we played our best football,” he said.
“You can only play as well as the opposition will let you.
“They were hard all day and tackled well and we had to dig deep.”
The Cannons were behind at all breaks, and were down by five points at the last break.
Smith said some players who had been quieter earlier in the game stood up and contributed in the last quarter.
He said they lowered their eyes more in the last quarter instead of blazing away.
Harrison Minton-Connell kicked the first two goals of the last quarter, before Jeremy O’Sullivan kicked the sealer.
“He was on the boundary line 40 metres out, with the wind not really assisting him,” Smith said.
“It was an incredible goal and put us up 13 points.”
Smith said he thought the closeness of the group had played a role in the side’s ability to win close matches.
He said with the exception of a loss after the siren and an earlier loss to Tasmania, they had won all their close games.
“We’ve had six or seven close games by less than a kick,” he said. “We’ve won most of them.
“The closeness of the group, it gets the team over the line.
“You need a little bit of luck, but I’m happy to get the win.”
Mason Fletcher, who was a pivotal target up forward, kicked two goals, along with Minton-Connell.
Smith said it was the two wings, Campbell Edwardes and Lachlan Gollant, who were best on ground.
Edwardes, who hasn’t played a lot with the Cannons due to school football, took 11 marks.
Cody Brand, Brodie Newman and Joshua Hotchkin were the other standouts.
The Calder Cannons face Dandenong Stingrays in an elimination final after the Stingrays beat the Murray Bushrangers in their wildcard match, 13.13 (91)-10.10 (70).
Smith said they would take confidence into the match having beaten the Stingrays earlier in the season.
In that match, the Cannons won 107-39.
