NFL 2018: Ahmed Saad bags 10 goals in West Preston-Lakeside’s semu-final win over Bundoora

AHMED Saad delivered a finals performance for the ages as he booted West Preston-Lakeside to a big Northern Football League finals win on Sunday.

Ahmed Saad helped himself to 10 goals in Sunday’s knockout semi-final. Picture: Mark Dadswell

AHMED Saad delivered a finals performance for the ages as he booted West Preston-Lakeside to a big Northern Football League finals win on Sunday.

The former St Kilda forward produced a highlights package any forward would be proud of to finish with 10 goals in the Roosters’ 18.8 (116) to 9.10 (64) triumph over reigning premier Bundoora in the knockout semi-final.

The highlight of which was his seventh major of the game, raising majestically Cristiano Ronaldo style to volley a goal from above head height at the top of the goal square.

That was one goal among a run of five which he kicked in about 10 minutes, blowing the Bulls out of the water after the teams were tied at the last break.

The ‘Jackie Chan’ style kick was one of two volleyed goals for the game, while he reached double figures by selling some candy and then check-siding the ball through the middle of the Preston City Oval goals.

Ahmed Saad during his days at St Kilda. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Saad, who kicked three first-quarter goals and two in the third term, said after the game that he played his best footy “on instinct”.

“When I start thinking about my footy too much it starts complicating things,” he said.

“I like kicking a goal and there’s nothing better than doing it in a final and helping my team get a win.”

West Preston-Lakeside’s comprehensive final term, during which it kicked eight goals to no score, will hold it in good stead as it prepares to face North Heidelberg again in Sunday’s preliminary final.

The Bulldogs proved too good in the qualifying final, when the Roosters were kept goalless in a disastrous second half.

“We were pretty disappointed last week,” Saad said.

“That wasn’t the type of footy we like to play.

“We weren’t tough, we weren’t hard … (but) we knew we were good enough.

“We reset straight away on that Sunday and went into training with a positive focus.”

While Saad was the star in attack, Patrick Karnezis was influential in and around the stoppages, booting two third-term goals, Alex Federico impressed and big men Mark Kovacevic and Matt Harman battled manfully against Bulls gun Matt Dennis.

For Bundoora, Josh Grabowski was the source of much of his team’s inspiration and forward thrusts, Gary Moorcroft (three goals) did his best with limited supply, while Josh Iacobaccio battled hard and Dale Marshall provided some run.