IF you needed proof of how much one moment can change the course of a football match, all you had to do was be at Hay Recreation Reserve on Saturday for Moulamein’s 15.14.104 to 9.6.60 win over Wandella.
Early in the third quarter, Matthew Wilkinson was swung forward for the Bombers and slotted the first major of the term to bring the margin back to two points.
It seemed like a thriller would ensue.
However, from the following centre bounce, Bombers ruckman Ricky Cathie received a yellow card in a scuffle with opposing big man Anthony Daw.
From that moment, the game was all Moulamein, with the Swans kicking an incredible eight straight goals for the quarter in a scorching display that will put Quambatook and Nullawil on notice.
With Cathie off the field, Daw gave his midfielders first use of the pill and allowed the Swans to get their running game going.
It was a tale of deja vu for the Bombers as they slumped to their second big loss to the Swans in as many weeks, ending their season rather meekly.
It was a massive day for the Swans, however, playing their first final since 2008, coach Heath Moloney was ecstatic to finally give their fans a taste of finals triumph and promised to revel in the victory before returning to business.
“It means everything being such a small town an hour away from everywhere,” Moloney said. “We’ve been doing it tough for a while, so it’s great to have a bit of success.
“We haven’t put a complete four-quarter effort together for the last half of the year, so it’s good to do that today, and we’ve still got a few to come back from injury, so hopefully that helps us also.
“You’ve always got to enjoy it – we’ve got a two-week break, so we’ll lap it up tonight but then get straight back into recovery and back into training.”
Earlier, it seemed like the Bombers had learnt from their failings the previous weekend as they stifled the Swans’ run and made the first half a scrappy affair.
The significant inclusions of Mitch Collins, Mitchell Treacy and Kane Timmins seemingly made a difference.
Timmins threatened to break it open for the Bombers at stages as he set up the first goal of the match with skipper Logan Keighran profiting.
Josh Flight hit straight back and begin a day of dominance that would end with five goals and potentially should have been much more.
He was partnered well by Beau Duggan-Hulands, who kicked four majors as the pair again proved too large a task for the Bombers’ defence.
Moloney had nothing but praise for his big men’s efforts.
“They’ve been doing a great job all year, being double-manned most games, and they’ve just kept their heads down and kept kicking goals,” he said.
“I’m not sure how many they kicked, but they were just awesome all day.”
Mason Bailey was terrific in the first half and was rewarded with a goal midway through the first term as the Swans took a 13-point lead into the first change.
The Bombers threw everything at the Swans in the second quarter, twice bringing the margin back into single figures, with goals by the impressive Darren Rushton and Corey Walters.
The Swans always seemed to be able to respond, though, with answers coming from Josh Flight and Daniel Aarsman, permitting the Swans a nine-point advantage at the main break.
Aarsman was dominant all over the ground and was able to go forward to hit the scoreboard.
Moloney labelled his performance as “pretty bloody good”, and if the Swans want to challenge for the ultimate prize, their star midfielder will need to continue this form.
His third quarter is one Swan fans will remember for a long time. He ran rampant and kicked two goals, coupled with two memorable celebrations.
The highlight of the third quarter, however, came from big man Duggan-Hulands, who snapped a goal from the boundary that seemingly defied the laws of physics.
A 56-point three-quarter-time lead was never going to be run down by the Bombers as they kicked a few junk time goals to make the margin more respectable.
Timmins, Darren Rushton and Corey Walters fought hard, but they will be left ruing that momentum swing all off-season.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Wandella, as their reserves side recorded a two-point win over Macorna courtesy of a kick after the siren.
But the day belonged to Moulamein, who did, unfortunately, leave Hay with an ankle injury to defender Jacob Thorne.
Still, Moloney is hopeful Thorne will be able to return in time for the preliminary final.
“It’s unfortunate, but we’ll see what happens – he’s got two weeks, so hopefully, he’ll get up,” he said.
The Swans will face the loser of Quambatook-Nullawil match on Saturday, September 3, coincidentally in Wandella.
