MPNFL Division 2: Somerville beats Karingal in qualifying final

It was a chaotic start to the MPNFL finals for Karingal when a last-minute hiccup forced it to bring in a player straight off an overseas plane.

Karingal was forced to make a late change before its qualifying final against Somerville.

“It was a pretty frantic time working out who was coming in,” Karingal coach Luke Forsyth said.

Karingal was about to begin the MPNFL Division 2 qualifying final against Somerville at Rye on Saturday when things went haywire.

Key Bull Callan Dixon injured his calf in the warm-up and had to withdraw from the game.

Making things tricky, Karingal’s reserves had just played and there weren’t many players fresh and ready to play another game.

That’s when Karingal’s coaching staff started looking in Luke Farrelly’s direction.

Farrelly had started the day in another country but suddenly found himself lacing up borrowed footy boots in the changerooms.

Farrelly had been holidaying in New Zealand. He was supposed to play in the Bulls reserves side but was left out when his flight got cancelled on Thursday night.

“He was stuck at Queenstown airport for 36 hours,” Forsyth said.

“He flew in at 9.30 on Saturday morning and came straight to watch the twos, and came straight into the ones.

“He had to borrow everyone’s kit, he even borrowed a mouth guard and played, and he did well actually.”

Karingal coach Luke Forsyth.

The disjointed start was a sign of things to come for Karingal, which lost to Somerville by 25 points, 10.10 (70) to 6.9 (45).

Adding salt to injury, Karingal forward Riley D’Arcy was reported for allegedly head butting his Somerville opponent Kane McKenzie in the last quarter.

D’Arcy will front he tribunal on Tuesday night.

Somerville trailed by 11 points at quarter time but outscored Karingal eight goals to two in the next three quarters.

McKenzie was named the Eagles’ best-on-ground, while Lachlan Sharp was lively up forward and the versatile Jesse Walker-Swain impressed.

Mitch Mantell, Ryan McMahon and Joshua Mcmahon were also among Somey’s best.

“It was tight, it was a real scrap, lots of repeat stoppages,’’ Somerville coach Brad Canavan said.

“We just got the job done.

“We’ve had guys for probably the last six weeks just buying in and just doing jobs, really selfless.

“It was a pleasing win in the end.”

Somerville coach Brad Canavan.

Somerville will face the undefeated Langwarrin in the second semi final next Saturday.

“They are clearly and obviously the team to beat,’’ Canavan said.

“They’ve been super for a couple of years now.

“I’ve had the board out this morning spinning the magnets around and checking on the players.

“We’re pretty sure we’ll get Tom Roberts back (from the VFL) which would be a good in.”

Karingal will look to bounce back in the first semi-final.

Forsyth said Dixon would be “right to play”.

“It turned out he pinched a nerve in his calf . He got some dry needling in it last night. He’ll be right next week,’’ he said.

“It definitely wasn’t ideal when our most in form and experienced back man goes down after the coin toss.”

Forsyth said the Bulls would bounce back.

“It was disappointing yet we’re fortunate that we had a good enough home and away season that we earn the double chance,’’ he said.

“You don’t want to have to use it but we’ve got one and we get another chance.”