Thomastown comes back from dead to snatch NFNL Division 2 finals berth
Thomastown’s season was on life support before an unbelievable comeback to snatch St Mary’s NFNL Division 2 top-five spot by just 0.59 per cent.
Northern
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Three weeks ago, Thomastown’s NFNL Division 2 season was on life-support.
At half-time on Saturday, Thomastown’s season looked over.
When the final siren sounded, Thomastown was finals bound having pulled off one of the all-time great comebacks.
After six straight defeats mid-season, three wins on the trot had resurrected the Bears’ finals hopes.
Entering the final match of the season against St Mary’s, the equation was simple – win by 27 points and you’re in.
The Burras held a 23-point lead at half-time but roared on by a vocal Main Street Reserve crowd, the Bears stormed home to claim a 31-point victory and snatch fifth.
Leap-frogging St Mary’s by just 0.59 per cent.
With the minutes ticking down and a 25-point lead, Nick Jolly was the hero, kicking the last goal of the game to secure an unbelievable finals berth.
Co-coach David Folino said the win rivalled some of the club’s biggest moments.
“It was an amazing day for the club, the scenario was clear,” Folino said.
“The boys pushed to the very end and we just got there, it’s great reward for all the hard work they’ve put in all year.
“We got up by five goals but St Mary’s got one back straight away, then Jols took a grab and finished and we managed to hang on.
“It was great scenes, it was a huge day, and one of the better wins the club the club has had for 10 years to be honest.”
Thomastown was flying mid-season, winning three games in a row before the King’s Birthday bye.
However, it looked like the year had collapsed as the club endured six losses, including to strugglers Northcote Park and Laurimar.
A nervy 11-point win over Watsonia and nail-biting four-point win over Panton Hill revived its finals hopes and the Bears delivered when it mattered most.
“It’s been a funny year, we won three in a row before the bye then lost six in a row,” Folino said.
“It was disappointing around the club but the boys kept believing, they knew what we had to change to get better.
“Once we got that first win, it created a bit of belief, and now win three in a row and sneak in, we’re really happy.
“The club hasn’t won a Division 2 final since 2008 and we’re looking to change that.”
On Saturday, St Mary’s – knowing it too needed win to seal a finals berth – burst out of the blocks to take an 18-point lead into quarter-time.
The margin was 35 points late in the second term before Kyle Green and Jolly goalled in the shadows of half-time to make it a 23-point game.
It flipped the momentum as Michael Tang, Youseph Dib twice and Jolly kicked truly to take the lead before James Lucente made it seven goals unanswered.
Thomastown would kick 14 goals to four in a stunning 66-point turnaround.
“Sash (Spiroski) challenged them at half-time, I’m sure a few people outside the rooms would have heard it,” Folino said.
“The boys would have been disappointed with the second quarter and they responded, once you get a roll on and some momentum it’s amazing what can happen.
“There were a lot, Michael Tang was pretty big in the second half, Kyle Green kicked a couple of huge goals in the last quarter and Jarryd Coulson was tireless in the ruck.
“They all had their moments, it was a fantastic team effort.”
Dib was named best-on-ground in the win, while Tang, Green, Jolly, Julian Janev and Macca Zakkour all impressed.
For St Mary’s, Rory Hanlon was best afield and Jack Cicitta (four goals), Huon Macgibbon and Josh Carelli stood tall.
Thomastown will now face Lower Plenty in an elimination final on Sunday.
The Para Road Bears have taken both match-ups this season, winning by two points at Main Street Reserve and 28 points at Montmorency Park, and are coming off a 103-point win over Panton Hill.
Yet Folino is confident his team can continue to achieve the unexpected.
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“You don’t want to say nothing to lose because we just showed how hard it is to make finals, we don’t want to miss this opportunity,” he said.
“We think we’re good enough to be there, it just took us to the last second to get there.
“We want to win and final and go from there, ride a bit of momentum and who knows.
“The twos are in finals as well, I think it’s the first time both have been in for 10-plus years as well, they’ll be there next Sunday too.”
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