By David Nagel
One down…three to go!
The premiership hopes of Nar Nar Goon are still burning bright after the Goon repelled a brave challenge from Kilcunda-Bass to score a 10.12(72) to 6.8(45) elimination final victory at Inverloch-Kongwak on Saturday.
Kilcunda-Bass had been waiting eight years to make its WGFNC finals debut; and skipper Jake Weightman made sure it would be a memorable start to proceedings by winning the toss and kicking against a strong breeze that was blowing to the netball courts end of the ground.
It was a decision that looked a little shaky after three minutes of play, when Clancy Pope converted a set shot to get the Goon on the board.
But the defensive efforts of the Panthers were to be admired; with coach Lee Rowe stacking his backline, subsequently causing congestion that the Goon struggled to deal with.
While there was little threat of scoring the other way, it took the Goon a frustrating 20 minutes to get its next major on the board.
A set shot from Jarrod Smith was soon followed by a thumping left-foot bomb from Ryan Bromley, who happily feasted on some slack defence from the Panthers’ midfield and half-backs.
Bromley’ booming left foot was proving a real danger for the Panthers; and his 60-metre wind-assisted six-pointer was a clear highlight on the day.
Bromley, a half-back, had three shots at goal in the first term alone; with his first two attempts landing out on the full.
The Goon led 23-0 at quarter time, but – just like a dodgy test match wicket – it was impossible to assess the contest until both teams had kicked with the wind.
The Panthers played some terrific football in the second quarter, with Travis Tuck standing alone as the best player for the term.
Jed Rosenow and Sam Watson were terrific for the Panthers down back, but it was Tuck’s aggression around the contest that was the clear second-quarter highlight.
The Panthers narrowed the deficit to 17 points after three minutes had elapsed, and when Tuck took a contested mark in the goal-square, and kicked truly from close range, the Panthers were just 11 points adrift; nine minutes into the second.
Bromley’s left-foot was generating plenty of drive from the back half, but the Goon was being well held and looked a little clunky; certainly not at their free flowing and transitioning best.
A goal to Matt Gentile, who took the advantage after a forward-50 free kick, was simply a speed hump for the Panthers; who continued their second-quarter surge.
Tuck just wanted the ball more than any other player at a stoppage; 20 minutes into the quarter, with his goal from congestion cutting the margin to eight points.
Dale Gawley then reduced the deficit to two, and when centre-half-forward Dean McRae took a great mark and kicked a ripper from the netball-court pocket; the Panthers had the lead for the first and only time in the contest.
A late goal to Harry Brain, who would produce a magnificent second-half display, gave the Goon a two-point lead at the major interval.
It would prove a decisive moment in the match; the first of six consecutive goals as the Goon separated itself from the pack.
Tuck continued to have a huge influence for the Panthers, but weight of numbers saw the Goon build a healthy lead.
It took 12 minutes of persistence to pay off for Justin Stanton’s team, with a lucky tumbler from Matt Homfray bouncing through to make it 10 points the difference.
Brain and Jake Smith then propelled the ball forward from the resultant centre clearance, with Gentile kicking one over his left shoulder to nudge the margin out to 16.
Jarrod Smith then buried one from outside 50, and when regular defender James Cairns received a transferred free-kick downfield, the Goon had a handy 29-point buffer at the final change.
Aidan Pipicelli then wrapped things up with a set shot, three minutes into the last, before Weightman had the last say with the final goal of the match.
Weightman’s decision to kick against the wind would backfire, with the breeze dropping significantly in the final term.
But it was a plan that initially worked, with the Goon not allowed room to move with so many bodies in its front half.
The Goon simply played better footy after half time, with Brain, skipper Trent Armour, Jake Smith, and Cairns down back having significant influence on the match.
The Panthers were certainly not disgraced in their first foray into WGFNC finals footy, with Tuck, Rosenow, Watson and Ben Eddy leaving with their heads held high.
Jarrod Smith and Gentile slotted two each for the winners, who now face reigning-premier Inverloch-Kongwak in a cut-throat first semi-final at Cora Lynn on Sunday.
Tuck kicked two for the Panthers; who finish on a positive note with Rowe recommitting as senior coach for the 2025 season.
