Mernda pips Fitzroy Stars by barest of margins in nail-biting clash
Bryce Kimuliatis boots two final-quarter goals to lift Mernda to the tightest of wins over NFNL Division 3 premiership rival Fitzroy Stars.
Northern
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Fitzroy Stars and Mernda put on a show worthy of a grand final on Saturday.
The two NFNL Division 3 premiership contenders went toe-to-toe at Waterview Reserve but it was the Demons who came out on top with a heart-stopping one-point triumph.
The Stars, ladder-leaders heading into the match, held a nine-point lead at three-quarter-time but were overrun in a thrilling finale.
Mernda spearhead Bryce Kimuliatis booted two fourth-quarter goals before a rushed behind with five minutes remaining secured a 10.7 (67) to 10.6 (66) victory.
Demons coach Rob Fletcher said it was a showcase of what local footy should be.
“It was local footy as it was when I grew up; lots of people, a good game of football and then getting around and having a beer with each other after the game, Fletcher said.
“You’re playing a quality opposition like Fitzroy Stars, they’re an elite footy side with the likes of (Jai) Burns, (Kain) Proctor and Neville Jetta.
“It was a good quality game, we got a good jump at the start, they got a hold of us in the third and when the rain arrived we spoke about it being a dogfight now.
“We spoke about our home ground, we don’t like to lose at home, so I think it’s a year and a half since we’ve lost at home – we’ve made it a fortress.
“We were lucky enough to get the footy down to the big fella (Kimuliatis) and he kicked a goal and we got it down again and he kicked another one to level the scores and not long after we scored a point and that was it.
“I think our fitness and attack on the footy from the young fellas got us over the line, which was awesome.”
Mernda jumped out to an eight-point lead at quarter-time before Fitzroy took control through the middle stages.
The Demons still held a one-point advantage at half-time but the Stars booted four goals to two in the third term to take a nine-point buffer into the final change.
The visitors will rue kicking 0.3 in the last in an arm wrestle that saw a string of stoppages in the middle third.
Taking on the likes of proven Division 1 talents Burns, Proctor, VFL-listed Tyson Pickett and ex-AFL star in Jetta, Mernda’s onball brigade gave everything.
Josh Mazzarella, Christian Evans and Joel Harris were immense, while Chris Roussos and Shannon Bennett also impressed.
Kimuliatis finished with a match-high five goals to jump to second on the league goalkicking charts.
“I thought Josh Mazzarella was our best-on-ground, he was good all day but in the last quarter he was just a bull,” Fletcher said.
“We’re rapt to have him back and he keeps showing us why every week we’re so happy to have him.
“He’s played onball all year and been really good and when the game was in the balance, he stepped up, Christian Evans and Joel Harris were great and big Byrce has kicked five.
“It was a really good team effort … you need that even balance across.”
The win made more meritorious with injuries to Lincoln Coffey, Matt Bawden and Dayne Kellett leaving Mernda short on the bench.
For Fitzroy, Pickett was best afield, while James Trajkovski, Proctor, Jetta and Kyle Thomas stood tall.
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The result creates a log-jam at the top of the ladder.
Old Paradians took top spot with its nail-biting four-point win over Old Eltham Collegians, with the Turtles, Stars and Demons all a game behind and Ivanhoe and Epping a further game back.
Epping was too good for Reservoir in a 66-point win, Ivanhoe defeated Kilmore by 33 points and Kinglake pipped Lalor by 12 points.
Fitzroy Stars will look to bounce back after the King’s Birthday bye against Heidelberg West, while Mernda hosts Lalor.
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