Tara Murray
Westmeadows is through to its first senior grand since 2000 after another come from behind win in the Essendon District Football League division 2 finals.
For a second straight week, the Tigers overcame a slow start. This time they were able to knock off Burnside Heights, 8.17 (65)-6.9 (45) to seal their spot in the decider against Taylors Lakes.
Tigers coach Ash Flavel said it was an incredible moment for the club.
“It’s fantastic, I’ve lost my voice again,” he said. “Really happy with the boys.
“It’s been 24 years since we’ve been in a grand final, it’s been a long time between drinks.
“After the game… Pity Rupertswood’s rooms weren’t big enough to get everyone in like Greenvale’s, it’s fantastic to see everyone happy and everyone smiling and crying.
“Even I broke down with all the emotions coming through.”
It didn’t seem likely early on that the Tigers would be the ones heading to the grand final.
The Bears kicked the only two goals of the first quarter to lead by nine points.
Flavel said for some reason they haven’t been able to start well the last couple of weeks.
“The first 10 rounds we started well, the backend of the season we come home,” he said. “We still can’t start well for some reason, I don’t know what it is.
“The conditions, the wind sort of really didn’t help and we couldn’t put the score on the board until late in the second quarter.”
Having kicked 2.14 in the first half, Flavel said they would likely do some goalkicking during the week having been poor the week before as well.
He said they were lucky that Burnside hadn’t kick as straight as they could have, keeping them in the game.
The Tigers kicked the first goal of the third quarter and the momentum got going. They led by 15 points at three quarter time before finishing off strongly.
“We just couldn’t put them away,” Flavel said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s one point or 30 points, we’re in front at the final siren.
“That is all that matters.”
Rex Hickman was the only multiple goalkicker with three for the Tigers.
Co-captain Ryan Capron led the way and was best on ground.
Flavel said Michael Mayne in the ruck, Luke Smith in the midfielder, youngster Gabriel Guida and Hickman were other standouts.
“Everyone had their moments.”
For the Tigers, they now head into the grand final as underdogs against Taylors Lakes.
The club will be searching for its second senior premiership with the first a B-grade premiership in 1984.
Flavel said they would enjoy the preliminary final win before getting back to work.
“I said to the guys tonight [Saturday] that we have nothing to lose,” he said. “They’re the favourites and we’re the underdogs, just go out and play our brand.
“Hopefully they’ll have a bit of an off day and put a few more quarters together and convert as well.
“We know this week we have to put four quarters together.
“We’ve got a few things we sort of need to clean up and address, we’ll work hard on them during the week and prepare for the grand final. We’ll give it a good crack.”
