Dees survive Doon scare, Lions prowl into semis

Old foes have set up a tantalising cutthroat semi-final next week after a massive first week of Ovens and King football finals over the weekend. Third-placed Milawa survived an almighty scare in a pulsating five-point win on Saturday while Whorouly claimed their first seniors' finals win in 12 years on Sunday. At Whorouly, it was a Lions side who relished their first finals campaign since 2019 from the outset against Goorambat. Kicking out to a 33-point lead at halftime, Whorouly’s defence cut off seemingly any Bats advance at a comeback in the third quarter and finished winners 17.17 (119) to 7.9 (51). Coach Michael Newton said it was an exceptional day for the club. “We put ourselves in a really strong position in the first half, every time they got the footy it felt like we put them under pressure,” he said. “There’s a few areas to clean up but overall, we were able to control the game on our terms and our effort and intensity was a little bit higher than there’s.” Newton said Darcy O’Shannessy’s role on one of the league’s premier small forwards, Duane Haebich, was reflective of a strong back half performance throughout the day. “Woodsy [Cam Wood] was pretty good against Rhys Goodley as well, it was a pretty comprehensive effort,” he said. Such was the luxury of their lead, Whorouly placed senior leaders Andy, Josh Newton and Max Scott on ice during the last quarter. “Andy and Josh haven’t played a lot this year so just looking after them, and Maxy Scott gets beaten and battered about every game, but there’s nothing to worry about there,” Newton said. Having beaten the Bombers by 93 points the week prior, the Demons were warm favourites running out on a beautiful looking North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve on a sunny 18-degree day in the other final on Saturday. But as we’ve seen so many times, finals footy is a whole different ball game. Bonnie Doon spearhead James Law set the game alight in the opening quarter, kicking four first quarter goals including one on the siren to have his team fired up at the first break. The Bombers size up forward and slick ball movement exposed the smaller Demons backline, with Bonnie Doon big man Tim Berenyi also getting on the end of a goal. Milawa made the most of their chances up forward to keep themselves in the contest, including back-to-back goals in time on to stay within 14 points. The Demons responded strongly in the second with centurion goal kicker Brady Bartlett getting the edge over a gripping battle with full back Earl Ree-Goodings, kicking three goals to halftime. Law and the Bombers continued to pepper the goals, but accuracy was becoming a problem, kicking 1.7 for the term and hanging onto a slim lead. The game would become a dog fight in the second half, as stoppages mounted and goals harder to come by. The in and under game looked to suit Milawa the most with midfielder Aaron Law, utility Jared Lea and winger Kyle Collison combining well across the ground. Lea would kick a pair of crucial goals, including one out of a stoppage, to have Milawa on top while Bonnie Doon continued to rue their chances in front of goal. Needing a boost 12 points down at the final change, Bombers star Cam Smedley delivered in the early stages of the final quarter, kicking a coaches goal out of the middle to keep his side in the hunt. The back-and-forth struggle would continue and with the game calling out for a bit of class, Joel Sanford stood up and put the Bombers back in front. Bonnie Doon would have great looks in front of goal to put a buffer on the game, but again left their chances hanging. As the nerves crept onto the field, the Demons, surged on by a packed crowd, began to get on top and their main man up forward Brady Bartlett took a big one-on-one mark in range. Having missed a shot moments earlier, Bartlett wouldn’t make the same mistake 30 metres out on a slight angle, kicking the goal and giving Milawa a lead they wouldn’t give back. Whorouly and Milawa meet at Whorouly in the minor semi-final on Sunday, after Bright and Greta will battle it out for a spot in the grand final at North Wangaratta on Saturday.

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