Eltham through to NFL Division 2 grand final after win over Diamond Creek
Eltham is through to the NFL Division 2 grand final and coach Rob Hyde believes the win over Diamond Creek could be the perfect preparation.
Northern
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It was sweet relief for Eltham after booking its place in the NFL Division 2 grand final on Saturday.
The Panthers avoided the dreaded straight sets finals exit with a come-from-behind nine-point win over Diamond Creek at Epping Recreation Reserve.
The 7.13 (55) to 6.10 (46) victory sets up a rematch with semi-final conqueror Banyule in the decider at Preston City Oval on Saturday.
From four points down at three-quarter-time, Eltham rallied to keep its promotion hopes alive.
Panthers coach Rob Hyde said the hard-fought preliminary final was a better grand final preparation than another week off.
“I just said to them ‘you don’t deserve to be in a grand final just because you finish on top’ but if you don’t make it, it would have been embarrassing after losing one game,” he said.
“It’s a relief more than anything else and what ever happens now happens but at least we’ve given ourselves a chance.
“We didn’t play that well (against Banyule), I don’t think we played that well (on Saturday).
“Our lead in against Epping and Fitzroy – that’s not derogatory to them – and then the week off, I don’t think it helped us.
“Look at first division, it’s proven (the week off) is a big challenge and if we had have won last week it wouldn’t have helped us.
“We needed to play a hard side like Diamond Creek and get it under the belt, that doesn’t mean we’re favourites to beat Banyule but it gives us a sense we’ve worked hard.”
Looking to continue its fairytale finals run, after eliminating Thomastown and Lower Plenty, Diamond Creek led at every change.
The Creekers burst out of the blocks to take a seven-point lead into quarter-time and held the same margin at half-time.
Eltham closed the gap in the third quarter with inaccuracy in the second half keeping their rivals in the game.
“I watched (Diamond Creek) the last two games and they played much better footy in the finals in the way they attacked,” Hyde said.
“I thought half way through the third quarter we started to get on top in terms of getting ball inside 50m.
“The last quarter I felt we outran them, we ran over the top of them, we had 37 handball receives and over the game had about 15 more inside 50s than them.
“We’ve done it all year, just been able to grind it out, and the workrate has been fantastic.”
Young ruckman Finnbar Maley continued his outstanding season with a best-on-ground performance, while fellow young gun Dan Owen booted a game-high three goals.
Lane Sinclair marshalled the Panthers defence, along with Mikael Avramov and skipper Darcy Vallance.
Hyde was in awe of his young stars.
“Finn’s a good player isn’t he, jeez he took some good marks, if it’s a windy day he’d get blown away but he’s a free spirit and runs around and jumps at the ball,” he said.
“He might get beaten in the ruck by (Tim) Martin next week but we’ve got to weigh that up with what he gives us around the ground, as he did (on Saturday).
“Young Dan Owen, the kid is 19, and kicked three goals – the only multiple goalkicker in the game – that’s a terrific effort.
“We’ll get back Jason McCormick from the Knights next week and he takes the pressure off Dan a bit, two really quick ones they’ll have to look after.”
Hyde forecast changes ahead of the grand final with club best-and-fairest front-runner Ben Montanaro likely to miss with an ankle injury.
McCormick, co-captain Jackson Weatherald and Brayden Taglieri are waiting in the wings.
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Hugh Kavanagh was Diamond Creek’s best in defeat, while Noble, Marchbank and David Mennen also stood tall.
It ends a brilliant season that saw the Creekers in the top-three for much of the season before making a stunning preliminary final run.
Diamond Creek will hope for revenge in the reserve grade grand final as it takes on Eltham, the Panthers looking for a senior-reserve double.
Banyule will also have a chance for a premiership double with the Bears’ under-19s to take on Laurimar.
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