Southern league: Fev and Swanny injured in St Kilda City’s win over St Paul’s McKinnon
Brendan Fevola told teammates he couldn’t remember playing the entire match after copping a headknock in the dying minutes of a local footy game.
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St Kilda City performed a Houdini act on Sunday to keep its premiership hopes alive in Southern league Division 1.
The Saints trailed St Paul’s McKinnon by 14 points at the last change but stormed home with four goals to one in the final term to win by three points, 12.7 (79) to 10.16 (76), at Moorabbin.
But the victory came at a cost, with stars Brendan Fevola and Dane Swan suffering injuries.
Fevola was concussed in the final few minutes, while Swan hurt his ankle.
Fev kicked a vital goal to cut St Paul’s lead to four points but then suffered a head knock in general play.
“We didn’t know he was concussed until he had a free kick and he completely shanked it,” St Kilda City coach Ryan Hoy said.
“That would have iced the game and then he came off and said, ‘I can’t remember the whole game, mate, I was concussed’.”
Brownlow medallist Swan hobbled off in the third quarter and it’s feared his season is over.
“He came off and said, ‘mate, it just feels like every time I put weight on it I’m just going to fall over’,’’ Hoy said.
“So, it’s not good news on that front.”
Both Fevola and Swan will see doctors this week but are unlikely to play in St Kilda City’s preliminary final against Cranbourne on Saturday.
“We’ve got a deep list so we’re still confident with the list we have,” Hoy said.
“They are big outs but at the same time we’ve done it without those two players as well.”
Hoy labelled his side’s fast-finishing win as “inspirational”.
A crunch moment occurred at the 10 minute mark of the last quarter when St Kilda City captain Josh Corcoran smothered a kick and prevented a certain goal by a St Paul’s McKinnon player who was running into an open goal.
“That’s what turned the game,” Hoy said.
St Kilda City young gun Judd Rowell sprang to life in the last quarter, kicking two vital goals.
The Saints midfield, led by Madi Andrews and Luke Potts, also hit their straps when it counted most.
“We only played 20 minutes of footy and it got us over the line,” Hoy said.
“They (St Paul’s) out played us for three quarters.
“It was backs against the wall, going into a four goal breeze.
“You can’t really play to any structures or stats in that last quarter, you can only question their heart and their integrity and how much they want to push on in the finals series.
“They just played on pure guts in that last quarter.
“The song after the game…it was the biggest song I’ve ever been a part of, just the emotion that was running through the group and the spectators was second to none, mate.’’
St Kilda City will face Cranbourne in the preliminary final on Saturday.
“We’re the underdogs each week and we like being the underdogs,’’ Hoy said.
“Hopefully we will get win this weekend and then chance our arm in a grand final but Cranbourne are a tough opposition, they’re well coached.’’
Cheltenham booked a spot in the grand final with a 14-point win over Cranbourne in the second semi-final on Saturday.
Jack Worrell kicked four goals and Angus Johnson three for the Rosellas, who named Jack Davis, Oliver Moran, Tom Turner, Dylan Weickhardt and Daniel Rendell among their best.