Tara Murray
Old Paradians are one win from a grand final in their first season in the Northern Football League division 3.
The Raiders have been a surprise packet this season having made the move from the Victorian Amateur Football Association in the off season.
After finishing the regular season in second spot, the Raiders started finals with a win against a fast finishing Mernda, winning 14.8 (92)-12.12 (84) in the qualifying final on Saturday.
Raiders coach Ben Turner said if you had said to them at the start of the season they would have taken it.
“We get a crack at Fitzroy Stars and have a second opportunity to make a grand final as well if we need it,” he said.
“At the start of the season if you said we were playing off in this game anyone would have taken it.
“We’re looking forward to this week. We are rapt to have both teams in finals and in the second week of finals in our first season in the NFL.”
Turner said much of the group had finals experience but this particular group hadn’t played finals together.
The Raiders played finals in 2022 before an average 2023.
“We spoke about it during the week,” he said. “The boys we bought in from various clubs had a bit of finals experience.”
Turner said for much of the match it was in their control.
They led at each of the three breaks, with the margin being 22 points heading into the final.
“We had a really good first quarter,” he said. ”We got out to a three goal margin and it felt like it was in our control.
“We led by two to four goals for most of the day. Mernda made a bit of a run right towards the end.
“There were some nervous moments not just for the players and the coaching group, but also the spectators over the fence.”
Turner said the group was able to execute the dying moments well to ensure that they finished on top.
Mitchell Merkel kicked four goals for the Raiders, while Lewis Franz kicked three.
Turner said Merkel, Sam Gilmore in the ruck and Joel Tolli in the middle of the ground were their best among a number of really good contributors.
For Mernda, Matthew Bawden kicked three goals. Jayden Bell and Christopher Roussos were named their best.
The Raiders now face Fitzroy with a spot in the grand final on the line.
Turner said they were ready for the challenge.
“We get to face the bench mark of the competition,” he said. “We are 1-1 with Fitzroy Stars.
“The top five is so even we have to be at our best on the day.”
The Demons will face Epping in the knockout semi final.
It was a good weekend for the Raiders with their reserves winning their elimination final
