SFNL: Cranbourne kept its season alive with a come-from-behind victory over Springvale Districts
An experienced Eagle with “some good tricks on him” was just one of the inspired moves which helped Cranbourne keep its Southern league season alive.
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Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien was true to his word.
When asked if he had any tricks left up his sleeve ahead his side’s elimination final against Springvale Districts, the retiring coach shot back, “I like to think so, mate.”
And a few of those tricks came out on Sunday, as the Eagles ran down a 22-point fourth-term deficit to pip the Demons, 8.8 (56) to 6.14 (50).
O’Brien made a number of moves but most noticeably sent star wingman Ryan Jones to full forward.
Jones had been tagged by Demon Jamie Nguyen in the first half but broke free in the second half.
Jones had an array of shots including the goal that put Cranbourne within a kick of the lead.
O’Brien said the Eagles moved Jones deep “through necessity” as they stared down an elimination final exit.
“We put a couple forward, tried to get them one out to see which match-up might work for us,” he said.
“Fortunately for us, a few paid off and it helped the other guys who were in the square previously move up the ground and get involved too.
“It was through necessity, we had to find a way to score and Jonesy in a previous life was a very good forward so we always knew he was capable.”
O’Brien thinks the energy Jones brings makes him “dangerous wherever he plays”.
“He’s (Jones) got such a good step on him, you don’t know if he’s going to go left or right,” O’Brien said.
“A couple of his snaps looked good off the boot from the box but then you go ‘hang on, that’s gone just straight up in the air’.
“But he’s got some good tricks on him and he’s dangerous wherever he plays, he’s had an outstanding season, the old boy keeps getting better I think.”
Springvale Districts led at every change and was up by 22 points with the first three shots of the fourth quarter.
O’Brien attributes the Eagles’ comeback to their resilience and belief and thinks their level of both is why they can cause some damage this finals series.
“When they kicked that first one I was like ‘ooft, ok, we’ve got some work to do’,” he said.
“I really preached to the boys staying in the moment and it’s something I always preach to myself before them.
“I found that really important, the first thing I said to my assistant was ‘there’s still plenty of time’.
“We had to grind away, look at some levers we might be able to pull and it probably didn’t look likely but we were able to get over the line in the end.
“I think it’s why we’re a dangerous finals side, we never give up – I was a bit speechless after the game because of how proud I was of the group.
“There’s a word: resilience. I have used it with this group my entire journey with them and it just came through again yesterday.”
Jarryd Barker had an enormous fourth quarter while youngsters Tyler Finn and Calvin Peris Chong impressed in their first final.
Toby Arms was sensational for the Demons, further mounting his case as one of the best players in the competition.
Cranbourne takes on St Paul’s McKinnon on Sunday after Dingley downed the Doggies in Saturday’s qualifying final.
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