Key forwards Luke Reynolds, Liam McBean and Josh Scott stand tall for Glenelg as it marches into its first grand final since 2008
There had been question marks about Glenelg’s much-vaunted forward line of Luke Reynolds, Liam McBean and Josh Scott heading into the preliminary final. But all rose to the occasion on the big stage.
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One had a game to forget, one got hurt and was in doubt for the preliminary final and the other has hardly played this year because of a badly broken arm.
But with minor premier Glenelg’s season on the line against the favoured Adelaide Crows on Sunday, star goalkickers Luke Reynolds and Liam McBean and attacking powerhouse Josh Scott stood tall.
Former Port Magpie Reynolds cut a disconsolate figure at the Magarey Medal count on Monday night following one of his worst games of the season in the second semi-final against his ex club.
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Second for this year’s Ken Farmer Medal behind McBean, with 45 goals, he made some uncustomary mistakes, including missing a shot from the goalsquare and coughing up a goal at the other end with a horrible defensive error.
McBean, who won the medal with 46 majors, bagged three goals but finished the game on the interchange bench with a sore hamstring.
He spent the week rehabilitating the injury and his spot in the preliminary final side wasn’t confirmed until just prior to the game.
Fellow key forward Scott thought his season was over late in the minor round when he had problems with the shattered arm he hurt against South Adelaide at the Bay in round three.
But with the Tigers’ strong season in danger of slipping away — and the club’s long, painful ride without a finals win heading towards 4004 days — the star trio stood tall in the cut-throat final at Adelaide Oval.
Reynolds, a former Carlton rookie list player, started the ball rolling.
Luke Reynolds takes a spectacular mark and scores the first goal for @glenelgfc in this Prelim final at the Adelaide Oval pic.twitter.com/p8PWGmQE3T
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) September 15, 2019
He took a spectacular mark in the goalsquare in the opening minute over Adelaide tall Jordon Butts.
Four minutes later he marked and goaled from 40m as Glenelg got the sizzling start it desperately wanted.
It booted four goals in the blink of an eye to seize a crucial 24-point lead at the eight-minute mark.
McBean was solid early but really turned it on in the third quarter when the Tigers were staring at a straight sets finals exit, trailing by eight points at the long break after the Crows had dominated the second quarter.
He goaled in the opening minute of the term — from a superb pass from Reynolds — and kicked three majors for the quarter.
And Scott, who had been just a shadow of his best prior to this contest as he overcame big odds to play, rose like a Goliath.
He kicked an important third quarter goal and a match-sealer in the final quarter, taking several powerful marks.
Reynolds finished with five goals and 11 marks, McBean booted four majors and took six grabs and Scott bagged three while hauling in six marks.
That’s 12 goals and 23 marks between them.
A huge goal from Josh Scott keeping @glenelgfc in the lead in the second quarter pic.twitter.com/5OI3MdXGw4
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) September 15, 2019
On a day where impressive second-year coach Mark Stone needed his key trio to make their mark on the game, they did, steering Glenelg to its first finals win since the 2008 preliminary final against Sturt.
While midfielders Brad Agnew and Magarey Medallist Luke Partington were terrific, the Bays’ triple-headed monster proved the difference.
Glenelg, which hasn’t won a premiership since 1986, is now into its first grand final since 2008 — against bitter arch rival Port Adelaide.