Off to the Semi...

With nothing tolose and a lot to win, St Joseph’s Senior Football Team ran out to tackle themight of GWSP Roosters for the Elimination Final at West Geelong Ovalyesterday.

It was an awfulday from the point of view of the spectator, it was windy, cold, and sporadicrain made it even more annoying, but from the point of view of the players,they were like ducks to the pond; our men ran out and had planted 3 goals onthe scoreboard in the first quarter to GWSP’s nil.

It was a showing ofgreat physical strength to maintain possession while time after time pushingforward, whilst being able to resist the attack of the Roosters; our backlinestood up and played body on body Lovick’s, Podbury, Stankovic, Hornsey, &Burn; there was clear difference between the skill level, the attack, andsimply the strategy.

By half time thescore line was bleak for GWSP, we had a 33-point lead (GWSP 11 – St Joeys 44);although it is a final, and the game isn’t over until the fat lady sings; andin the third quarter, the Roosters put on a show with a spirited comeback, butdidn’t come back with enough to take over the lead.

After a series ofmishaps and a long list of decisions - for and against - which left players,coaching staff, and supports disillusioned, it was the third quarter huddlewhere Mark Hovey gave the most oar inspiring speech, to calm his chargers, and breathefresh air into the lungs of the boys who were seeming to slow.

Needless to sayit worked, once the fourth quarter began so did the ability for Joeys to winthe ball, break the lines and run hard through the centre, especially when theball had rebounded from the backline. Josh Rudd, Nick Danielle, Justin Hope, Justine Mahoney, Torrin Baker andBrett Jackman all stood tall and worked for one another.  Matt Bolton, Tom Balding, Jimmy andJames Fitzgerald maintained possession up forward to slam on 4 goals in thelast quarter to produce quite clearly the most influential win of the seasonthus far.

St Joseph’s   10.  8.  68

Defeated,

GWSP   6.  7.  43