Fitzroy Stars rally to beat Laurimar in NFNL Division 3 top-of-the-table clash

Fitzroy Stars looked down and out but, in front of a bumper home crowd, charged home to pip Laurimar in a top-of-the-table epic with Brock Carter the catalyst.

Raman Winmar gets a kick for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Field of View Photography

Good teams find a way.

Fitzroy Stars looked down at out at three-quarter-time, trailing premiership rival Laurimar by nine points and the wind against them.

However, in front of a bumper home crowd at Sir Doug Nicholls Oval and keen to celebrate NAIDOC Week in style, the NFNL Division 3 ladder-leader found a way, charging home to claim an eight-point victory.

Brock Carter was inspirational, Eddie Betts marked another pocket with a classic piece of brilliance and Corey Salvador was a brick wall in defence.

The 11.10 (76) to 10.8 (68) triumph continues the club’s undefeated season and all but confirms a second straight minor premiership.

Keadin Ronnan in action for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Stars coach Neville Jetta said the win was for the club’s community.

“NAIDOC Week was what we revolved the game around, more than us versus Laurimar, it could have been anyone and we wanted to come out to win,” Jetta said.

“It was a big occasion, jumping castles and dodgem cars, our community and family rocked up and we wanted to put on a good show for them.

“We knew what Laurimar was going to bring, that was the bonus getting the win over them, who everyone is saying we’ll meet later in the year if all goes to plan.

“I’m really proud of our fight and staying true to how we want to play.

“Everyone was asking the question, ‘Laurimar’s got the wind in the last quarter, what’s Stars going to do?’, and I think Laurimar was expecting the wind to go their way.

“We have some boys that maybe don’t believe in themselves sometimes, so I tried to give them belief by saying we’ve done this before, trust the process and trust each other.”

A strong wind was blowing to the St Georges Road end and Fitzroy used it to skip out to an early 20-point lead.

However, Laurimar was level just six minutes into the second term.

In an attacking onslaught, the Power piled on six goals to two to take a five-point lead into half-time – Ethan Bateman showing off his leg with a goal from almost the centre of the ground.

Then, running into the wind, the visitors kicked two goals to one to extend their lead at the final change.

AFL Draft hope Cooper Herbert was dominant and kicked the goal of the day, shedding Stars tacklers, taking a bounce and slotting the goal from 40m.

Power coach Jimmy Atkins implored his team not to think the job done.

Yet, Carter took a towering mark and goalled within the opening 30 seconds of the fourth to snatch the momentum and slotted a second just minutes later out of the ruck to put the Stars in front.

When Betts snapped one through from the right pocket with a defender in his face, the lead was 10 points.

Laurimar made a late push but couldn’t find the goals.

Carter was superb, giving his midfield first use in the ruck and providing a marking target around the ground before pushing forward to kick the two game-changing goals.

Corey Salvador, Kain Proctor, Neville Jetta, Keadin Ronnan and Allan Norris also impressed.

“Brock was awesome, he really stood up,” Jetta said.

“He’s been on night shift the last couple of weeks, so it’s been tough getting down to training, but he’s been awesome for us this year.

“I went into the mids from half-back to try and get us going forward and let our forwards do the work, Eddie Betts, Elijah Taylor, Raman Winmar and Kyle Wheatley, they’re good forwards.

(Salvador) did a great job, he had a job on (Steve) McCallum and was so good, but the biggest thing in that last quarter was him flying for his marks.

“Contested marks in a big game are unbelievable, that’s something we’ve been working on at training and it’s no surprise to see that come out in the game.”

The Stars now have the bye before a four-week block heading into finals.

The ladder-leader also has Jai Burns (hamstring), Ethan Penrith (overseas), Lachie Edwards (calf) and Patty Farrant (late VFL call-up) to come back in.

In a footy festival atmosphere, the Stars were a perfect three for three with the women’s team claiming a thumping 102-point win over South Morang to cement themselves in the Division 2 top-two.

Meanwhile, the Stars reserves secured a critical 13-point win over Laurimar, ending the Power’s undefeated run in the process and moving into third place.

“When you have such a strong senior team, we’ve put a lot of time and effort into the twos, to keep them motivated to play seniors,” Jetta said.

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“We were really underdone in Round 1 but they’re peaking at the right time. They got challenged and a number of players stood up.

“Our women’s and men’s, we’re trying to put things in place for everyone to come, that’s what a footy club should be.”

Elsewhere in Division 3, Old Eltham Collegians broke its slump with a 12-point win over Heidelberg West and Kilmore kept its finals hopes alive with a 48-point win over Lalor.

Epping pipped Mernda by 12 points to lock in third place on the ladder, while Ivanhoe eased past Kinglake by 24 points to cement fourth.