Roxburgh Park coach Paul Derrick didn’t have to say much to his players leading into their Essendon District Football League division 2 semi-final against East Keilor.
Having exited the finals last year in a fashion they would rather forget, the Magpies had a focus all year of returning to the grand final.
On Saturday afternoon at Greenvale Recreation Reserve, it was clear early they were switched on.
Their defence held strong for the first 10 minutes before the midfield and forwards took over.
They led by 25 points at quarter-time and extended that in the second quarter. A goal after the siren at three-quarter time ensured a match-winning lead going into the final quarter.
Every goal was celebrated in the last quarter, as the Magpies savoured the 15.8 (98)-7.6 (48) win.
Derrick said he couldn’t be prouder of his players and what they had achieved so far this season.
Last year the Magpies got knocked out in the preliminary final. They lost in the grand final in 2014.
“I’m very happy – it was our aim from November and it’s come to fruition,” Derrick said after the semi-final.
He said many of the players in his young side these days had 50 to 60 games under their belts, meaning they were better prepared for finals football.
“They handled the pressure and looked at ease today,” he said.
Derrick said that while it was a whole team performance, it was the back line that set the win up early, as the Cougars did a lot of the early attacking.
Once they had worked themselves into the game, the Magpies turned up the pressure.
“It’s a really close group … they helped each other out,” he said.
“Intercept marks were good and even at stoppages, we corralled and smashed them when they had the footy.”
The Magpies shared the goals around with Derrick saying the work of division-leading goalkicker Luke Capuano (two goals) was brilliant.
Tumay Hamza kicked three goals.
Derrick said the Magpies were almost at full strength and that Luigi Oppedisano would come into consideration for selection for the grand final, providing he had recovered from injury.
He said his players would have a lighter time on the training track this week before ramping things up in grand final week.
They will play the winner of East Keilor and Moonee Valley.
It was a double celebration for the Magpies on Saturday with the club’s reserves side also winning straight through to the grand final.
