Epping feels like they belong in the Northern Football League division 3 finals after one of the biggest comebacks in football history.
The Pingers were 61 points down 20 minutes into the second quarter of their semi final against Reservoir and it looked like their season was coming to an end.
The next 40 minutes saw one of the best displays of football all season, with the Pingers kicking the next 10 goals to trail by one point at three quarter time.
The Pingers run didn’t stop in the last quarter, as they kicked on to win 17.9 (111) – 14.13 (97).
Pingers coach Steve Power said the game was one for the ages.
“We started OK and kicked the first two goals of the game.
“They then played 40 minutes of a good brand of football and we could not get out hands on the ball.
“The last five minutes of the second half we started to get our hands back on the ball and we kicked the last two goals of the quarter.”
Power said there was no massive secret to the comeback.
“It’s like an elimination final and you need to have self belief or you are out.
“We didn’t have to be in front at three quarter time but I wanted us to be in striking distance going into the last quarter.
“There’s no reward without risk and we started trying things. I would have rather us lose by 20 goals then not give it a crack.”
Having got themselves back into the game, Power was concerned they would run out of legs in the final quarter.
“The third quarter was the best quarter of football we had played all year and we played it at the right time.
“It was in my mind that we had spent all our petrol tickets.
“But they had the self belief that they wanted to win and knew that they could.”
Robert Tinsley and Kevin Kiernan kicked five goals each for the Pingers.
Josh Stavely was instrumental in the comeback and was best on ground.
Power said the win was credit to the effort the boys had put in.
“The boys have worked hard and we are still a young group.
“The win is what this group needed. They needed to feel like they belong in finals.
“We’re not just making up the numbers.”
The Pingers play South Morang in the preliminary final for a spot in the grand final against Reservoir.
“We have confidence and believe that if we can play with the brand of footy we did in the second half for four quarters we are a chance.
“We match up well against them. It will be a good, tight contest.”
