MPFNL 2023: Somerville chasing first flag in 37 years
Somerville is two wins away from snapping one of local football’s longest premiership droughts after dispatching Karingal in Saturday’s MPFNL Division 2 qualifying final.
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Somerville is two wins away from snapping one of local football’s longest premiership droughts.
The Eagles dispatched Karingal in Saturday’s MPFNL Division 2 qualifying final by 44 points, 11.20 (86) to 5.12 (42), with Jaxsen Shinners, Lachlan Sharp, Kane McKenzie, Nick Mason and former AFL-Kangaroo Tom Murphy in the best.
Somerville’s last senior flag was 37 years ago, in 1986, coached by former St Kilda champion Gary Colling.
Somerville, despite losing ruckman Tom Roberts early with an ankle injury, looked the better team from the start on Saturday as it edged to a five-point lead at half-time.
The Eagles probably should have led by five or six goals though after missing several sitters. They had 2.12 on the board at the long break.
Somerville captain Luke Burton brought intensity early, setting the tone with a run-down tackle.
Sharp marked everything that came his way and Corey Battams looked dangerous up forward.
Somerville increased its lead to 12 points at three quarter time, despite kicking into the breeze in the third quarter, and then capped off its day with a seven-goal-to-two final term.
Karingal lost midfielder Alex Frawley with a hamstring injury but coach Luke Forsyth offered no excuses.
“Honestly, Somey were good,’’ he said.
“We probably couldn’t have played any worse to be honest. We just went away from everything, all our structures and defensively we just weren’t good enough.
“We were probably a bit lucky at half-time to be only five points down. They missed a couple of easy ones and we just weren’t good enough. Pretty black and white in the review.
“They played like they were in an elimination final and we played like we had a double chance. And unfortunately we weren’t good enough. We’ll learn from it.
“We lose Frawley with a bad hammy, he’s done for the year. It just opens up the door for another one in.”
Somerville progresses to the second semi-final against minor premiers Mornington on Saturday, with the winner to go into the grand final.
Karingal will look to bounce back in the first semi-final, on Sunday.
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