BALRANALD produced a stunning late comeback to win by four points and exact revenge over Kerang in Saturday’s grand final rematch.
After trailing by 21 points nine minutes into the final quarter at Greenham Park, the home side kicked five of the last six goals to prevail 17.7 (109) to 16.9 (105).
In a match where the lead changed 13 times, it was the Roos who finished full of running.
Drew Lloyd kicked three last-quarter goals – including two in the dying minutes – as the Blues ran out of steam.
Balranald’s key players, led by Harrison Soraggi and both the Neagle and Lloyd brothers, who proved the difference late after Kerang kicked four unanswered goals across either side of the three-quarter-time break.
The Blues would rue missed opportunities, having dominated possession in patches during the first half, but hurt by poor disposal going inside their attacking 50.
Balranald’s skill errors also proved problematic in the first half, albeit predominately in their defensive half, where missed targets and several dropped marks largely went unpunished.
Both teams were piling on the pressure around the contest and, when the ball did find its way to the outside, both looked dangerous in transition.
Balranald’s ability to switch the play to their loose players in space moved the ball forward with speed off half-back, while Kerang instead preferred to kick their way through the centre corridor and pick their way through the Roos’ zone.
The highly anticipated ruck battle between Nick Lang and Jordan Wilkins became a one-sided affair, Lang not only getting cleaner hit-outs around the stoppages, but also impacting around the ground with his contested marking ability to be the Blues’ best player.
Neither team could lay claim to winning the overall midfield battle, with both finding plenty of the ball out of the middle.
Kobe Lloyd was sensational for the Roos and seamlessly filled the void left by the departure of Ethan Gant, while Jydon Neagle and Harrison Soraggi were also prepared to take the game on with ball in hand.
Neagle in particular was at his most damaging best, the joint coach also creating havoc deep in the forward 50 to finish with five goals.
Drew Lloyd also kicked five, while Colin Andrews was able to impact the scoreboard with four of his own in a strong display as a permanent forward.
For Kerang, Archer Dibsdale was the main goalkicker with four in his first game back for his home club, providing a strong marking target inside 50.
The encouraging performance ended prematurely when Dibsdale left the field late with a leg injury.
Jordan McNeil showed in the first half that he, too, will be a strong contributor for Kerang up forward this season, while Adam Baird, Tyson Clingan and Brad Pay also found plenty of the ball.
Kerang had seven days to regroup before facing a resurgent Tyntynder this Saturday, while Balranald will travel to Lake Boga to take on the Magpies.
FINAL SIREN
| BALRANALD | 4.1 | 8.3 | 12.5 | 17.7 | 109 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KERANG | 4.5 | 8.7 | 13.9 | 16.9 | 105 |
VOTES
3 – Kobe Lloyd (Balranald)
2 – Nick Lang (Kerang)
1 – Jydon Neagle (Balranald)
