EDFL 2018: Aberfeldie advances to Premier Division grand final with semi-final win over Keilor

A MOUTH-WATERING major semi-final match-up pitted the competition’s best defensive team against the leading attacking side on Saturday — and defence won.

A MOUTH-WATERING major semi-final match-up pitted the competition’s best defensive team against the leading attacking side on Saturday.

Knowledgeable football followers will tell you defence wins premierships.

Aberfeldie is one win away from claiming back-to-back Essendon District Football League Premier Division flags after defeating Keilor by eight points in a titanic struggle to advance to the decider.

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While the match won’t be remembered as a classic, the importance of Abers’ quality in the back half was underlined in the 7.9 (51) to 6.7 (43) triumph.

Ryan Allen restricted the best forward in the top flight, Dean Galea, to two goals and was named best afield, while Matthew Clark was limited to one major and Josh Martin held goalless.

Aberfeldie's Daniel Thompson fires off a handball on Saturday. Picture: Jamie Morey

“I thought both defences probably got the better of their front-half opponents,” Aberfeldie co-coach Adam Potter said.

“I think we took seven inside-50 marks for the day and we restricted Keilor to three, which was pleasing, but it probably wasn’t a day that suited key forwards from either side.”

Josh Toy was influential off the half-back flank, Luke Blackwell and Josh Cubillo did a power of work in the middle, while young guns Jean-Luc Velissaris (two goals) and James Peters (one) also earned praise from Potter.

Courtney Johns and Joel Madden impressed in the ruck.

When the pair met in Round 13, Keilor booted 20.9 (129) — the highest score conceded by the reigning premier in 2018 — and prevailed by 45 points.

At a rain-soaked Windy Hill, this was a different contest, with goals at a premium.

The teams were separated by a point at the main break and three-quarter-time before goals from Velissaris, Peters and Nicholas Cattapan in the last half-hour secured victory.

Keilor's Brock McGreggor and Aberfeldie's Joel Madden do battle in the ruck. Picture: Jamie Morey

“Both sides had to be relentless with the way they attacked the footy all day,” Potter said.

“It was really four quarters of brutal, physical football.

“That third quarter in particular, neither side were able to score a goal, and that last quarter we were able to have probably more front-half footy and 21 inside 50s to kick those three important goals to Keilor’s two. That’s the game in the end.

“There were a lot of contests where players for both sides had to put the bodies on the line.

“While it wasn’t a spectacle with the weather, it was certainly a game people would have watched and thought both sides were having an absolute crack at the contest.”

On the downside, Josh Pound, who has 40 goals this season, is “a little bit tight in the hamstring” ahead of the grand final on September 16.

“He hasn’t completely torn the hamstring, but we’ll give him every chance,” Potter said.

“He started his rehab (on Saturday) night, so hopefully he is every chance to get that opportunity because he’s been super this year.

“I think he’s been probably, in my opinion, the best small forward in the comp.”