Elimination Finals Review – 2017

From the Border Mail

CULCAIRN threw further chaos into the Hume league finals series by bundling Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock out of the premiership race at Walbundrie on Sunday.

Only 24 hours after Rand-Walbundrie-Walla stunned Henty, the Lions were equally as impressive with their relentless pressure in the windy conditions setting up a 12-point win.

Tim Hallinan was tireless around the packs, Tim Haines controlled play well in defence, Scott Fagan held Saint coach Kade Stevens and Jye Shields bobbed up with crucial touches.

Finals specialist Peter Cook was recalled from the reserves and kicked four goals while Jamie Robbins chipped in with three.

Joel Merkel also played well at one end of the ground over four quarters.

Culcairn co-coach Brendan Way described the victory as “huge”.

“It was tough in the conditions, but I was rapt with how the boys harassed and tackled and just kept at it all day,” Way said.

“I thought Rand-Walbundrie-Walla did exactly the same thing on Saturday.

“It got pretty tight but I thought we defended well in the last quarter.”

Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock relied on a handful of players with Nico Sedgwick being dominant throughout the midfield.

Luke Brauer started on Shields before being forced off through injury.

After sneaking into sixth spot in the final home and away round, Rand-Walbundrie-Walla showed they weren’t just making up the numbers by defeating Henty by 42 points on Saturday.

They kicked the first four goals of the match and were never headed.

Coach Myles Aalbers and key forward Todd Miller kicked four goals each while rover Ryan Lavery was best afield.

Young ruckman Mitch Thomas picked up plenty of possessions around the ground, Luke Emmerton restricted Swampie dangerman Brent Ohlin to two goals and Kris Milosta played his best match for the club.

Luke Bennie and Justin Gordon were also effective.

Aalbers said the Giants went into the clash with plenty of self-belief.

“Externally not many people would have given us a chance but internally we thought we were in good form and right in the game,” Aalbers said.

“I thought our tackling pressure was fantastic.

“We got a good start and, unlike earlier in the year at Henty, we were able to go on with the job.

“We’re still alive and who knows what can happen.”

Although Henty fought back to trail by only nine points at half-time, the floodgates opened in the third term when the Giants banged on five goals to one to lead by 37 points at the last change.

Any hope the Swampies had of a fightback were virtually dashed when key forward Shannon Terlich was yellow-carded for striking Brian Lieschke.

He accepted a two-match suspension.

Henty lacked its usual drive through the midfield with Heath Ohlin, Andrew Yates, Josh Gaynor and Beau Connell among the few to stand up under pressure.