NFL 2018: South Morang optimistic about future after preliminary final loss
SOUTH Morang coach Gary Hall hopes to stay in charge in 2019 after leading a team tipped to struggle to within seven points of a grand final berth.
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SOUTH Morang coach Gary Hall hopes to stay in charge in 2019 after leading a team tipped to struggle to within seven points of a grand final berth.
The Lions were widely predicted to finish outside the top four after an exodus of nine players from the side which faced Banyule in last year’s Northern Football League Division 3 decider.
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But they defied the odds and their inexperience to finish third after the home-and-away season, unearthing several future stars.
While their campaign came to an end on Saturday with a 10.7 (67) to 9.6 (60) defeat to Panton Hill, Hall could hardly have been prouder of his team’s development.
“To nearly make a grand final after losing nine blokes from last year’s grand final side, that’s a fair effort,” he said.
“I think I had 17 boys 22 or under out there (on Saturday).
“We know the future is good. Now it’s a matter of retaining all the boys and most of them are pretty happy.
“We’ll reload again and have another crack.
“We’ve got some good under-17s coming up and these boys now have another year of experience under their belts. They’ll be a little bit bigger, stronger and more experienced.”
Teenage key forward Samuel Indian, Bailey Brown, Daniel Caruso and Cory Giannone enjoyed breakout campaigns, highlighting the enviable level of young talent South Morang boasts.
The Lions trailed by 19 points at quarter-time on Saturday and were in danger of being blown away before kicking four goals to one in the second quarter to pull level at halftime.
Panton Hill wrested control in the third term, only for South Morang to respond again to cut the margin to eight points at three-quarter-time.
Matthew Trim, Ben Muscat and Alex Colaidis hauled the Lions to within striking distance with 10 minutes to play at Whittlesea Showgrounds, but the Redbacks’ defence held firm.
“Nearly four goals down at quarter-time, it quite easily could have blown out,” Hall said.
“But they dug deep, got themselves back in there. It could have gone either way in the end.”
Panton Hill will face St Mary’s in Saturday’s Division 3 grand final.
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