By Ken Moore
IT IS often said by keen followers of local football that Garfield has a soul that is hard to extinguish – and its fighting spirit came to the fore once again on Saturday when it defeated Cora Lynn by 29 points in the preliminary final.
After being thrashed by Neerim Neerim South in the second semi-final, Garfield entered the game with few willing to tip them against a team that had won 13 of its last 14 outings.
But it dug deep and has now earned a grand final berth and another crack at Neerim Neerim South. It will be Garfield’s first EDFL grand final in only its second season in the league and caps a stunning revival for the Stars, a club that faced extinction only two seasons ago.
Garfield coach Brent Eastwell and Cora Lynn assistant coach Matt Robinson entered the game under a big injury cloud with ankle concerns – and both had little of their usual influence on proceedings, well held by their respective opponents, Nick Rutley and Shaun Slama.
In front of a bumper crowd at Warragul, which produced a record gate for the fifth time in the finals series, Garfield kicked with a two-goal wind behind their backs in the first quarter and came out firing. But it failed to convert its chances.
For all their efforts, the Stars were only four behinds to the good after 10 minutes. Their persistence eventually paid dividends late in the term when ruckman Tom Marsh and Shane Reid took marks and popped through majors to give the Stars a 15-point buffer at quarter-time.
Marsh was outstanding in the first term and had plenty of allies, led by the Reid brothers, Shane and Brett, who instigated good drive out of defence and through the middle.
Sam Ferguson found plenty of space on his wing and Luke Bee Hugo proved elusive with a few amazing runs forward. Cobra warhorse Jack Allen was one of the few Cora Lynn players to get in the action during the term.
Cora Lynn reduced the Stars’ lead to nine points when Sean Marchetti split the big uprights at the five-minute mark of the second quarter, but it drew an instant response from the Stars’ Luke Bee-Hugo.
Mid-term the Cobras upped their game and with two consecutive goals by Ryan Gills and another to his brother Nathan with a clever snap, the favourites established a seven-point advantage.
Good teamwork by the Stars set up a goal by Ned Marsh in time-on, which put the minor premiers only three points adrift at half-time.
Run out of defence by Craig Taylor and good midfield drive from Brady White and Sean Marchetti – with some solid work by ruckman Dan Harders, who mopped up well in defence – put Cora Lynn back in the picture in the second quarter.
Cora Lynn attacked for most part of the opening 15 minutes of the third quarter, but aside from a goal by Michael Duiker, who capitalised on a spilt mark, the Cobras could not push their dominance beyond a six-point lead.
In the final 10 minutes of the term Garfield lifted, levelled the scores with a goal by Ned Marsh and then turned the screws on the Cobras with majors by Fry, Bee-Hugo and Fry again, to go into the three-quarter-time break in a solid position, 19 points up.
In the last quarter Fry continued on where he left off in the third quarter and, with his third goal at the three-minute mark, the Stars were well on their way to victory.
After that the Cobras’ efforts petered out, the pace and intensity disappeared from the game and for Garfield fans, the tension was released when Fry kicked his fourth. It proved to be the knock-out punch and Garfield prevailed by 29 points.
Garfield big man Tom Marsh was clearly best on ground. He took 24 marks and was dangerous all over the field. Ben Marsh hit the packs hard, Ned Marsh executed many crucial plays and Jim Bow was prominent at both ends.
Brett and Shane Reid read play superbly and used the ball well and wingman Sam Ferguson and half-forwards Luke Bee-Hugo and Matt Hobbs made vital contributions. Daniel Fry put his stamp on the game with four goals, all after strong marks on the lead and from late in the third quarter, when the game was up for grabs.
“All 20 guys were able to maintain sustained pressure today. We were embarrassed about last week’s loss and it showed,” Stars coach Eastwell said.
Most of the Cora Lynn players performed well below their best.
Back pocket Craig Taylor tried his heart out and was the most effective Cobra. He had terrific defensive support by Tim Payne and Matt Pierce.
Midfielders Jack Allen and Brendan Kimber gave it their all and Brady White and Nathan Gillis used their speed well. Ruckman Dan Harders, midfielder Sean Marchetti, half-back Nick Rutley and Anthony Giuliano all had their moments.
“They were on and we were off today and we just couldn’t make things happen,” said disappointed Cora Lynn coach Brendan Kimber, who agreed that last week’s hard game against Bunyip appeared to have taken the edge off his team.
