Hurstbridge claims famous win after West Preston-Lakeside miss on siren

It was ecstasy for Hurstbridge and devastation for West Preston-Lakeside after a shot for goal on the final siren. Here’s how it played out.

Joel Naylor kicks a goal for Hurstbridge. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The full gamut of emotions was on display as the siren sounded at Ben Frilay Oval on Saturday.

There was ecstasy for Hurstbridge and agony for West Preston-Lakeside after a final second shot for goal decided the NFNL Division 1 match.

Unfortunately it was heartbreak for Rooster Malik Elfakahani, who’s kick sailed wide, and the Bridges held on for a two-point victory.

The 10.9 (69) to 9.13 (67) result was also Hurstbridges’ first over West Preston-Lakeside since stepping up to Division 1 in 2017, snapping a run of nine straight losses.

It was also the club’s first Round 1 win since 2014.

Joel Naylor kicks a goal for Hurstbridge. Picture: Andy Brownbill

It was a win on debut for Hurstbridge coach Joel Cordwell but he revealed he didn’t even know the siren had sounded.

“It was a big finish, we were getting conflicting reports of how long to go, we thought there was still three minutes to go,” he said.

“I was thinking if it goes through we’ve still got time to score and all that but it sailed through for a point, the wind took it at the last second, and I was trying to talk to the coaches.

“Then the siren has gone and everyone is going off, the crowd was so loud I didn’t hear it.

“I thought they’d mucked it up and the umpires would come back out and we needed to start setting up but that was it, it was done.

“There were a lot of happy people, people that have been at the club for 40 years coming up to me and the players and just really excited.”

Hurstbridge burst out of the blocks, kicking the first four goals of the game before a Mitch Crapper goal a minute before quarter-time reduced the margin to 20 points.

The margin extended to 23 at half-time before the Roosters roared back into the contest in the third term, kicking five goals to two to make it a three-point game at the final change.

Joel Cordwell got a win in his first game in charge of Hurstbridge. Picture Davis Harrigan

In a nail-biting finish, both teams kicked a goal apiece before the match-deciding moment.

Cordwell was rapt with his team’s ability to hold firm under immense pressure.

“West Preston were coming really hard, they’re contest game was really good,” he said.

“They were winning clearances, winning the territory battle and we just held firm defensively, the boys stayed composed and grounded out the win.

Mitch Wild was named Hurstbridge’s best in his first game for the club, while fellow off-season recruit Tom Indian impressed in the ruck.

Spearhead Joel Naylor booted three goals, including what proved to be the game-winner, while Cordwell praised fellow tall forward Bailey Jordan’s pre-season after he booted two majors.

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“Mitch was outstanding, particularly early, he hit the scoreboard and ran really hard defensively. It’s a hard ground to play on as a winger,” Cordwell said.

“Our young ruckman Tom, he’s only 17, I thought he was outstanding too. He won the ruck for us and was pretty good around the ground.”

For West Preston-Lakeside, Adam Valeri was best afield, while Aiden Tilley and summer signing Chris Ryall also impressed. Crapper and Carl Adams kicked three goals each.

Hurstbridge travels to newly promoted Banyule in Round 2, while the Roosters will return to Moore Park to face Macleod.