Calder Cannons beaten after the siren as Eastern Ranges awarded controversial free kick

Calder Cannons are stinging after a controversial loss that saw Eastern Ranges claim victory with a goal after the siren but coach Ross Smith wants the disappointment to drive his team in finals.

Curtis Brown in action for Calder Cannons.

A controversial free kick robbed Calder Cannons of a courageous win over NAB League leader Eastern Ranges on Saturday.

With the Cannons leading by two points in the dying seconds, Cannons defender Curtis Brown was adjudged holding the ball and Connor Downie secured victory for the Ranges with a kick after the siren.

It was a cruel end for Calder, which had led for much of the day and had chances to seal the game in the final minutes.

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Cannons coach Ross Smith said the 10.7 (67) to 9.9 (63) defeat would drive his team in finals.

“We’re really buoyed by the way we played against the top side,” Smith said.

“The message to the boy was ‘I want you to be disappointed’ because we let a game slip that we shouldn’t have and ‘let that disappointment drive you’.

Sam Ramsay and Daniel Mott compete for the ball against Lachlan Stapleton.

Eastern Ranges celebrate their win after the siren.

“We need to be positive as well. I don’t want them whinging about a decision here or there or complaining.

“We’ve got to learn from the experience, we’ve got to be disappointed but positive and use it to drive us.”

The Cannons finished the regular season in fifth and will take on Tasmania Devils in the wildcard round this weekend.

Daniel Mott and Sam Ramsay were Calder’s best in the loss with their work around the contest crucial.

Ramsay was the game’s leading possession-winner with 27 and also laid seven tackles, while Mott collected 21 touches.

Eastern threatened to run away with the game before half-time but it was Mott who stepped up in the third quarter to put Calder on top.

Mason Fletcher marks strongly.

Harrison Minton-Connell in action for Calder Cannons.

Jake Sutton in action for Calder Cannons.

Harry Jones juggles a mark. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We won the clearances 12-2 in the third quarter and got right into the game and Daniel Mott was a big part of that,” Smith said.

“Eastern’s strength is their clearance numbers, contested ball, tackling and we matched them in all departments.”

With a host of AFL scouts in the stands at Chirnside Park, the pair’s draft stocks will have risen.

Jake Sutton was Calder’s most dangerous forward with three goals while father-son hopeful Mason Fletcher gave Essendon a glimpse of his potential with two majors, both bombs from outside 50m.

Smith also praised the work of 17-year-olds Jackson Cardillo and Campbell Edwardes.

Draft hopeful key forward Harry Jones was quiet, kicking one goal from 13 disposals, while captain and key defender Brodie Newman could manage only 12 touches and just one mark.

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