SFNL 2025: How Cheltenham kept Narre Warren goalless in final term to claim crucial win

Cheltenham coach Justin Pickering was adamant his Rosellas had what it took to finish with a flurry en route to a vital win. Find out why.

Sean Lai of Cheltenham. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Cheltenham coach Justin Pickering was adamant his Rosellas had what it took to run over the top of Narre Warren.

“This will happen again, mark my words,” was his message to the group at the three-quarter-time huddle, referencing the last time the sides met.

On that day in round 4, the scores were level at three-quarter-time before Cheltenham surged to a 24-point victory after keeping Narre Warren goalless in the final term.

On Saturday, Cheltenham trailed by three points at the final break but didn’t fret, and again held the Magpies goalless while kicking with the wind.

While the breeze was at their back, it should come as little surprise given the Rosellas haven’t lost a fourth quarter in five matches.

“They got away, I thought early we played pretty well, we kept it off them and managed to get it inside 50 about 10 times against the breeze,” Pickering said of the match’s opening term.

“We still had our opportunities to score against the breeze, squared the ledger at halftime and then we just made sure we told (the players) this time in round 4 we were in the same position and we ran over the top of them.

“We had a bit of confidence … it started to get a bit drizzly too so it was always going to be hard to score up the other end but our boys made sure of it. They controlled the ball and the senior players really stood up.”

It was a gritty showing from a young Cheltenham side which was reduced to just two players on its interchange for over half the match.

One of those injuries was Declan McComb who went down with a hamstring. McComb has more Japanese cricket commitments on the horizon and the injury has put an end to his football season with the Rosellas a week earlier than had been expected.

Pickering said the victory was “well and truly” valuable after his side lost to Dingley the round prior.

Jack Lonie. Picture: Andrew Keech

“We’ve got to keep winning and just put a space between third and fourth, that’s the plan,” Pickering said.

“We hold onto that and it gives us another chance to play finals which is what we’ve been planning for.

“It hasn’t been smooth sailing but hopefully we’re hitting our straps at the right time of year.”

Young talent Sean Lai has been back with Cheltenham for the past six matches following a stint with Richmond’s VFL outfit and continues to shine at Southern league level.

“He’s a beauty … the last few games he’s played with us he’s been super,” Pickering said.

“He’s a naturally gifted athlete, his left foot’s deadly, I’m still trying to work out where best to play him but give him some space and he can cause some damage.”

Jack Lonie — who clunked an impressive hanger in the final term — Dylan Weickhardt and Rex Kilburn were also among the Rosellas’ top performers.

“I was really rapt with some young blokes,” Pickering added, making note of Cade Dorrofield at centre half back and Luke Young.

“Cameron Blitsas played on Sam Toner — who kicked 7 on him in our practice game a couple of years ago — so he wanted a bit of redemption and he got that.”

Ruckman Jacob Edwards also impressed in his return from injury.

Narre Warren wasn’t without its chances late in the match, kicking four behinds in the final term, while a set shot from the towering Daniel Howe — who had kicked two spectacular long-range goals in the third quarter — failed to make the distance.

“(Narre Warren) probably had their best team in for the year, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Pickering said.

“I thought our blokes played extremely well for being such young kids and our senior boys stepped up when they needed to.”