Thomastown rolls over the top of Diamond Creek to take control of fourth in NFL Division 2 finals race

It was the NFL Division 2 mini elimination final that could decide the fourth and final finals spot and Thomastown produced its best football when it mattered against Diamond Creek.

Daniel Caruso in action for Thomastown.

Thomastown’s seven-goal final-quarter avalanche buried Diamond Creek on Saturday.

The fourth-placed Bears appear in the box seat to secure an NFL Division 2 finals berth, holding a six-point advantage on the Creekers with two games left for both clubs.

In a mini-elimination final at Coventry Oval, Thomastown produced arguably its best football of the season in the fourth quarter to run out 17.7 (109) to 11.13 (79) winners.

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The Bears have the bye this weekend before tackling Whittlesea and Banyule, while Diamond Creek faces Watsonia and St Mary’s before a final-round bye.

Thomastown caretaker coach Scott Plant said his team couldn’t afford to slip up.

“We’re still not safe. We win another game, then we’re locked in,” he said.

Nick Klooster was dominant in defence. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Daniel Chadwick was crucial in the second half. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“The pressure is on them (Diamond Creek) now, they have to win. If they drop a game they can’t make finals.

“They’re still in the hunt, they can play good football and they showed that in the first half. We just got them in the final quarter.”

It was a brave win by the Bears, who lost defender Michael Gravina (knee) and forward Tom Bonson (cork) before half-time.

After a high-scoring first quarter, Diamond Creek ran rampant in the second term but failed to make its dominance count.

At half-time, the Creekers’ lead was 10 points thanks to inaccuracy in front of the big sticks and late Thomastown goals.

Jai Norman had the chance to put Diamond Creek in control in the third term with two terrific marks but shanked both set shots out of bounds on the full.

Thomastown took full advantage, with Adrian Natoli, James Rizzolio and Daniel Caruso cutting the Creekers to shreds with their pace through midfield.

Holding a one-point advantage at the last change, even the weather turned on Diamond Creek as a stiff breeze picked up to aid the Bears.

Shannon Ball proved the match-winner with a spectacular goal and then snap out of the pack to take the lead.

Creekers coach Craig Hayes lamented the loss but believed finals were still within reach.

“We missed a number of easy shots in the first half. We were 8.8 and probably should have been 11.5, so we didn’t have scoreboard pressure,” he said.

“They controlled the footy better in the second half and we were haphazard.

“We spoke about it (finals) after the game, we can only control what’s in front of us … and we’ll see if fate smiles upon us.”

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