Greenvale’s premiership dreams came tumbling down against a dominant Aberfeldie in the Essendon District Football League premier division grand final.
Greenvale and Aberfeldie were clearly the best two sides all season, but it was the Gorillas that left no doubt about which side would be crowned the number one side.
While the Gorillas were stunning, the Jets were disappointing. They struggled to hit targets when they had the ball and had few answers when the Gorillas went forward.
The Jets weren’t helped by poor discipline, which turned several 50-50 contests to the Gorillas favour with free kicks and 50 metre penalties.
In the end, the game was all but over by three-quarter time. The Gorillas finished the job in the final quarter, kicking 16.11 (107)-6.10 (46).
For Jets coach Paul Chapman it was a disappointing end to what had been a very good season.
“Abers were fantastic and they came to play,” he said.
“They sort of settled into the game before us. We played some good patches of footy, but all in all, we kind of got out-played … it’s a bit of bitter pill to swallow for the boys.
“They’ve had a really good year and I’m really proud of what they’ve done and where they’ve come from pre-season.
“They didn’t deliver on the big day, give full credit to Aberfeldie.”
Three of the Jets’ star players who had been under injury clouds were named to play early in the day.
Skipper Addam Maric played despite suffering a hamstring injury last week and Fabian Deluca, who missed last week, was named despite suffering back fractures.
Maric was clearly hampered by the injury throughout the game and didn’t have his normal impact. Deluca proved to be one of the Jets best.
The Gorillas kicked the first two goals of the game, before the Jets settled and kicked two of their own.
The Gorillas made the most of the wind, to again open up a two-goal lead heading into the first break.
The Jets had the best of it early in the second quarter and the game looked to be on even terms, when they kicked the first two goals of the quarter.
But from there the game took a different turn.
The Gorillas dominated the rest of the quarter and led by 27 points at half-time.
Chapman thought at that stage they were still in the hunt, despite not playing well.
“We really lost our heads,” he said. “We weren’t playing good footy in the first half, but I thought if we try to get our game together we would be OK.
“We just fell apart. You can’t afford to do that in big games, because you give the opposition a bit of sniff to get scoreboard pressure and you’re behind the eight-ball.”
While the Gorillas were doing everything right in the second half, the Jets were left to rue poor discipline. Free kicks and 50 metre penalties were given away when the Jets could least afford.
Chapman said it was something that would need to be addressed.
“We just didn’t play the way we’ve played through the year,” he said.
“You’ve just got to learn from it. Suck it up and be better for it.”
The Gorillas did what they needed to in the last quarter, kicking three goals to one as the celebrations began.
Jacob Thompson was the only Jets player to kick multiple goals, with two goals.
Josh Smith continued his good finals form, named the Jets best player for a second straight game.
Nicholas Parthenopoulos, Brett Stillman and Deluca were the other Jets players who stood out.
Chapman said while they would look back on this season as one where the team has taken several steps forward, it was also one that got away.
“I feel like it’s the one that got away, as our best football is definitely good enough,” he said.
“We had some good contributors and a few guys who were down and they’ll have to live with that through pre-season until we get a chance to play game one next year.
“There’s a lot of soul searching for some guys.
“[But] I’m proud of all the boys.”
For more pictures of the senior grand final, CLICK HERE
