A week can be a long time in football as Wanderers proved with a classy win over St Mary’s in the qualifying final

Wanderers produce a 99-point turnaround to beat the in-form St Mary’s in the Men’s Premier League qualifying final

Wanderers' Dane McFarlane was a prolific ball winner in their qualifying win over St Mary’s. Picture: Felicity Elliott/NTFL Media

WANDERERS proved a week can be a long time in football when they produced a 99-point turnaround from their last meeting to beat hot favourites St Mary’s in the qualifying final.

The 20-point win was in sharp contrast to seven days ago when the Saints thrashed them by 79 points in the last home and away round.

Midfielders Shaun Mannagh and Dane McFarlane were superb, finding the football at will and providing their forwards with several scoring opportunities.

“Our attitude’s always been to take one week at a time and after last week when they threw everything at us, we had a different team this time,’’ Mannagh said.

“Footy’s a game of momentum so we changed a few things, got the start we wanted and got back on the horse and here we are.’’

Wanderers got out of the blocks a lot quicker than St Mary’s, booting the first three goals of the match before fans of both sides had taken their seats.

Spearhead Brett Eddy fired some early shots, booting four goals by half time from a combination of strong marks, free kicks and a clever around the corner shot.

It was the signal for his midfielders to run and carry the football in the Wanderers tradition and it paid handsome dividends when the Eagles booted five goals in the first quarter and another four in the second.

The 19-point margin at the main break would have been bigger if Shaun Edwards had missed his two first quarter goals and Jack Landt not been a catalyst for several St Mary’s forays into their attacking 50.

But it was Wanderers’ quick movement of the ball that broke open the tight checking and disciplined St Mary’s defence.

Eddy continued to terrorise his opponents with two more goals in the third term, one from a sprawling mark and another from an overhead mark after edging out Raphael Clarke in a one-on-one contest.

Dane McFarlane’s ability to find the football and do something with it and Shaun Mannagh’s smart use of the football were other big plusses for Wanderers.

Down back they had things under control with Brodie Newman intercepting anything the Saints midfield could throw at him and Brenton Motlop keeping tabs on Saints spearhead Jackson Paine.

Edwards booted his third major from a long run and goal early in the term but ran into Wanderers skipper Braedon McLean when he attempted a similar feat five minutes later.

The former GWS, Essendon and Sydney listed player was helped from the ground by trainers where he spent some time on the bench.

WANDERERS 5.1 9.3 12.5 13.8 (86)

ST MARY’S 3.2 5.8 7.12 8.18 (66)

GOALS — Wand: B Eddy 6 S Bates 3 D Thompson J Cubillo E Simpson J Priest. StM: S Edwards 3 J Landt 2 J Calder J Paine D Landt

BEST — Wand: S Mannagh D McFarlane B Eddy B Newman B McLean. StM: J Landt S Edwards B Grenfell W Hams.