By Tara Murray
There were plenty of nerves in the final few minutes as Craigieburn withstood a Hillside comeback in their Essendon District Football League division 1 semi-final.
At three-quarter time the Eagles had made the most of the breeze to kick away to a 34-point lead and looked set for victory and a preliminary final spot.
But the Sharks, who had the wind in the last quarter, didn’t give up and pegged the margin back to within a goal.
Their comeback fell just short, giving the Eagles a 13.12 (90)-12.16 (88) win and keeping their season alive for at least another week.
Eagles coach Peter Bugden said his nerves were on the edge in the final quarter.
He said they took the foot off the pedal in the last quarter after pushing the margin out to six goals in the third quarter.
“We were definitely out on our feet,” he said.
“I think we got a bit complacent with our attack on the ball. We were second to the ball and not doing the hard work.
“To the boys credit we live to fight another day.”
Bugden said the Sharks had a couple of shots late which would have let them hit the front, but they couldn’t convert.
“They never threw in the towel and credit to Steve Burns and his players they were really spirited.
“It was a flip of a coin and it landed on us.”
Bugden said Ben Fynch was their best playing at half-back and he was well supported by the young brigade of Liam Middleton, Brock Chircop and Sammy Laffan.
Dean Limbach kicked four goals.
Bugden said the result showed both the best and worst of the Eagles.
“At our best we are really good, but when we take our foot off the pedal we are average.”
The one downside of the win was a serious knee injury to Damien Bugeja. Bugden said it looked like Bugeja had done his ACL and would miss the preliminary final.
The Eagles could get three of their biggest names back. Captain Christian McErlain, Ryan Bongetti and Stefan Terzievski are all chances to return. All three would add experience to the side.
Bugden said they were hoping to have at least two, if not all three of them.
The Eagles face Tullamarine in a preliminary final. The Demons enter the match on the back of their worst performance of the season.
The Demons lost to Airport West, 15.13 (103)-6.11 (47).
Bugden, who is stepping down at season’s end, is hoping to extend his stay at Craigieburn by another week and said they would need to take it up another level if they were to beat the Demons.
“We have had difficultly against Tullamarine,” he said.
For more on Tullamarine’s win:
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/tullamarine-prepares-for-redemption-after-failing-to-fire/pub/northern/
