By Tara Murray
South Morang is hitting its straps at the right time, with the Lions through to a Northern Football League division 3 preliminary final.
Having snuck into the finals with a last round win against Laurimar, the Lions are now one win away from a grand final appearance.
On Sunday, the Lions were in control for most of the match against Kilmore winning 9.9 (63)-3.14 (32).
Kilmore kicked just one goal after quarter-time.
Lions coach Gary Hall said they continued on their efforts from the previous round.
“We live to fight another day,” he said.
“We got a lot of confidence out of last week and everyone contributed again and was in a good frame of mind.”
The Lions trailed by four points at quarter-time, but stepped up their defensive efforts.
Hall said they made it hard for the Blues to hit the scoreboard.
“After quarter-time, I thought we controlled most of the game.
“We had a lot of ball in our forward line and made it hard to get it out of there.
“They also struggled to find targets in their forward line.
“Most of their kicks at goal were on the run, which is why there were a lot of points.”
Rohan Buzzini kicked three goals for the Lions.
Hall said everyone played their role and he couldn’t single out anyone who had stood out more than others.
“When you play team football and don’t have standouts, you are hard to beat,” Hall said.
“I couldn’t pick anyone out and you can’t ask for anything more.”
In a bigger bonus, the Lions got through unscathed.
Hall said it was the first time this season they had finished with four fit players on the bench.
South Morang now face Laurimar in a preliminary final, with a grand final spot on the line.
Hall said they would certainly take some confidence out of that performance.
“We were in the same position as Laurimar a couple of years ago,” Hall said.
“You have to have things go right at the right time.
“We beat them by 50 points last round. Finals is a different story, but you would rather be coming in having beaten them by 50 points, than losing by 50 points.”
In division 2, Whittlesea finished the regular season in second spot.
The Eagles won their last match of the regular season, 18.13 (121)-6.5 (41) against Watsonia.
They will now face Banyule in a semi-final for a spot in the grand final.
Banyule enters the finals on the back of a 11.19 (85)-10.12 (72) win against Thomastown.
Eltham and Thomastown will face each other in the knockout semi-final.
Epping finished its season with a 10.15 (75)-4.7 (31) loss to Banyule.
In division 1, Bundoora finished its season with a 21.8 (134)-12.7 (79) loss to North Heidelberg.
Gary Moorcroft kicked five goals in his final game.
