Mernda upsets Kilmore to keep NFL Division 3 finals hopes alive

Just when the NFL Division 3 top four looked set, Mernda’s stunning upset over Kilmore has given the Demons the belief they can snap their finals drought this season.

Josh Delaney in action for Mernda. Picture: Richard Serong

Mernda ripped the NFL Division 3 finals door back open on Saturday with a gutsy eight-point road win over Kilmore.

The surging Demons are just a game behind the slumping Blues with three games remaining in the home-and-away season.

South Morang looked to have sealed the top four with a Round 14 win over Kilmore but Mernda’s victory leaves the Blues precariously placed.

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The season-saving 12.4 (76) to 10.8 (68) victory has given the Demons belief, according to team manager Shaun Mills.

“It was a must-win game, we didn’t have a choice,” he said.

“As it turns out, we’re closer to Kilmore than South Morang. They dropped a couple of games they didn’t expect to.

“They got within a couple of points … six or eight weeks ago, if they’d got within a couple of points, we probably would have dropped our bundle.

“The guys have belief. Earlier in the season we probably would have dropped that game. We’ve got some fight and spirit in the group.”

Mernda started strongly, taking a 15-point lead into quarter-time before Kilmore found its rhythm.

The Blues narrowed the deficit to four points at half-time but the Demons held firm and secured what would be a match-winning eight-point lead at three-quarter-time as both teams kicked 3.1 in the fourth quarter.

After missing five weeks, Matt Campbell made a stunning return from concussion, bagging four goals in a best-on-ground display.

“It’s great to have Matt back,” Mills said.

Josh Delaney in action for Mernda. Picture: Richard Serong

“He was really good, really positive, good mark, strong on the lead. When he kicked a couple of goals the boys got around him.

“We came out of the blocks fast, we kicked the first three goals.

“We saw them stuff from our guys that we’d seen on the track, but hadn’t put together during a game this year.”

Christian Cawsey, Andrew Marino (three goals) and Brenden Egberts also impressed.

Mernda hosts Lalor this weekend with Kilmore at home to Heidelberg West.

Elsewhere in Division 3, South Morang and Panton Hill warmed up for finals with 80 and 55-point wins over Reservoir and Heidelberg West respectively.

Eltham Collegians secured its fourth victory in a promising debut NFL season, beating Lalor by 42 points.

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