Montmorency ends West Preston-Lakeside’s season, sets up Bundoora rematch
Montmorency poured on 10 goals to four after quarter-time to book a preliminary final and bring West Preston-Lakeside’s reign to an end.
Northern
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West Preston-Lakeside’s four-year reign at the top of the Northern Football League has come to an end.
Montmorency ended the Roosters’ hopes of a three-peat with a 32-point victory in Sunday’s NFL Division 1 minor semi-final at Preston City Oval.
The Magpies piled on 10 goals to four after quarter-time to keep their premiership dream alive, 12.12 (84) to 7.10 (52), and book a preliminary final date with Bundoora.
League goalkicking medallist Pat Fitzgerald kicked five goals for the second week in a row, while co-captain Sam Binion was instrumental in midfield.
Montmorency coach Garry Ramsay labelled it the team’s best performance of the season.
“I think it was probably our best performance of the year so I was extremely happy with the way we executed,” he said.
“I think we gained a bit of confidence from our second half against Bundoora, we started slowly but we were more aggressive with our ball movement and fumbled a little bit.
“We didn’t go into our shells and it was a very pleasing performance.
“I think it was 20 to one point at one stage and we had big Fitzy on the ground not moving, so I thought we might be in a bit of trouble here, but he was just having a rest and we took control from there.”
West Preston-Lakeside took a three-point lead into quarter-time, despite having two fewer scoring shots.
However, Montmorency gained the ascendancy in the second quarter with 4.3 to 1.5 to go into half-time with a 13-point advantage.
The Magpies never relinquished the lead, kicking three goals in the third and fourth terms to secure victory.
Binion led a dominant Montmorency midfield brigade with Marcus Lentini and Billy Jenkin also impressing, while Fitzgerald starred up forward and Jackson Jones had his best game for the year.
“Sam hunted the ball really well and laid a lot of tackles, his physicality, he puts his head over it,” Ramsay said.
“He’s a really good young leader and the boys follow his actions, he’s a good example of taking luck out of football and making your own luck.
“He ran free, Lin (Jong) had a really good first half so I think they might have switched attention to him and then Sam got off the chain.
“He plays with a lot of heart, Marcus, he’s fully invested and got a lot of good friends in the team.
“He’s another one that doesn’t mind being at the bottom of the pack and when it’s his turn to tackle, he tackles with gusto and doesn’t let them out.”
The Magpies will only get stronger for the rematch with Bundoora.
After having his suspension reduced, star ruckman Liam Wale-Buxton will return for the preliminary final and a clash with Hamish Shepheard.
Shepheard was best-on-ground in the Bulls qualifying final win and Ramsay was looking forward to the head-to-head match-up.
“I’ve got a huge amount of respect for Hamish Shepheard, I think he’s a fantastic player and a really good leader,” Ramsay said.
“It will be a really good contest and a contest that will go a long way to deciding the game, Shepheard is one that lifts Bundoora, he’s one they all follow.
“We’ll take a lot of confidence into it, I don’t feel like we’re underdogs, I’m confident this is a 50-50 game.
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“Both sides performed similarly during the year and there was only a kick-and-a-bit in it last time, so it’s a genuine 50-50 game.
“The last six quarters of footy I’ve been really pleased with and there’s still areas of improvement. I’m excited by it.”
Mitch Crapper booted two goals and was West Preston-Lakeside’s best in defeat, while Adam Valeri, Matt Belbasis and Max Dreher also stood tall.
The preliminary final between Bundoora and Montmorency will be played at Preston City Oval on Sunday, September 11.
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