The Mallee Eagles withstood a late charge by Swan Hill to score a gutsy five point victory on Saturday at the Swan Hill Showgrounds.
In a quality contest that had everything the Eagles had to withstand the rampaging Swans who came back from being 32 points down at half time to hit the front at the 25 minute mark of the final quarter only to falter in the dying seconds of the game.
The Swans had their chance to win the match through a set shot on goal from 35 metres but miraculously for the Eagles the kick on goal was smothered.
The ball was then quickly transferred off halfback by the Eagle defenders to enable Andrew McDonald to mark and goal seconds before the final siren sounded in a thrilling finish.
The Mallee Eagles opened with all guns blazing in the first five minutes of the opening term as the drove the ball out of the midfield.
The opening goal was kicked by McDonald for the Eagles after great work from Jack Shannahan who launched a spearing pass onto his chest.
He kicked truly and would finish the day kicking five great goals in an impressive display.
The Swans looked sluggish early and with Shannahan and the mercurial Zak Saad having the ball on a string things were looking a little onerous for them.
Lachlan Joyce was able to register the Swans first ten minutes into the quarter when he took a strong mark and goaled with the now popular check-side kick after good work from Mitchell Makepeace further up the field.
This seemed to lift the Swans and goals to Makepeace, Liam Thornton and Cooper Angus and the match had an early momentum swing.
Swans big man Toby Thoolen had taken over in the ruck and with onballer Tom Pontell in everything as well as Oscar Lewis holding sway across half back for the Swans, they were looking the goods.
The Eagles responded however, through great work by Saad who was instrumental in setting up three late term goals to McDonald, Toby Sheahan and Ethan Pinchen to make it a one point ball game in the Swans favour at the first change.
The second term would be all the Eagles as they slammed on six goals to the Swans solitary major.
They were simply fantastic in the clinches and with Zaad on fire the Swans were once again looking flat footed.Saad kicked two for the term as well as setting up Pinchen for his second.
Other Eagle goals were kicked by McDonald and Harry Allen. Allen was playing his usual role at the bottom of the packs doing the grunt work to enable his team mates to have first use of the footy and he was fast becoming the best player on the ground.
Xavier Moloney’s lovely long 50 metre goal the only Swan Hill highlight for the quarter.
Harsh words must have been spoken at half time by the Swan Hill coaches in the bowels of the grandstand as the Swans came out firing in the third term.
Thoolen got back on top in the ruck after being blanketed by the talented Zac O’Meara in the second term and Luke Phelan began to get his hands on the Sherrin.
Goals to Pontell, Cooper Angus, Mitch Makepeace, Thoolen and Xavier Mertz were interspersed by majors to McDonald, Pinchen and Saad.
Saad’s goal had to be seen to be believed as he flew high in the square to attempt a mark only to fail, but he brilliantly recovered to kick the ball over his head for his third in the day in a class act to make the margin back to 21 points at the last change.
Spectators though at the ground were sensing that the Swans were lifting, and the final term had all the hallmarks of a final.
The Swans began to play at an exceptionally high level with Pontell simply on fire with three goals for the term and youngster Declan Quin kicked a goal from deep in the pocket to enable the Swans to hit the front entering time on.
The Eagles defence was under siege and unfortunately for them CHB Brent Sheehan who had performed well for three quarters had to leave the ground with a hamstring injury thus placing additional pressure on the Eagles defenders.
The Eagles showed real character however under significant adversity to clear the footy in the dying seconds of the game to enable McDonald to bring up a massive roar from the large crowd in attendance as he snaped truly as the final siren sounded.
L J Hooker Votes:
3 Votes: Harry Allen (ME) 2 Votes: Zak Saad (ME) 1 Vote: Oscar Lewis (SH)
