By Marcus Uhe
Narre Warren’s unblemished record in qualifying for every Premier Division grand final since the inception of the Outer East Football Netball competition has continued on the back of a brilliant, hard fought second semi-final win over Woori Yallock on Saturday.
The Magpies didn’t have it all their own way, forced to fight back after a poor opening quarter, but inspired by coach Steven Kidd’s impassioned plea to play for the black and white jumper and the badge on their chests, rallied to advance to the final day of the season with a 15-point win, 11.7 73 to 8.10 58.
For Kidd, a premiership player in his own right and one of the club’s favourite sons, the call to play for the jumper reflects his deep passion for a place that means an immense amount to him, and one he feels privileged to lead.
“I’m continually reminding them that, we play for Narre,” Kidd said.
“I’m trying to instil that in them, continually remind them and remind them how tight they are, because they are a tight group.
“I played so many games for the club and the junior club and I’ve grown up wanting to play in premierships, succeed, play for the jumper and I wanted to continue to instil in the players what has happened over the last couple of years with our club, what it means, how well we train.”
An uncomfortable and eery hush fell over the ground in picturesque conditions at Healesville with only the light breeze swaying the trees in the background providing a dull hum and atmosphere.
Joel Zietsman started on key forward Taylor Gibson in the Woori Yallock forward half, with Brayden Sharp joining Will Howe and Jesse Davies deep in the Magpies’ attacking 50 to begin the afternoon.
The Magpies made an ideal start to the contest with Riley Siwes kicking truly from in close after receiving a free kick, but the remainder of the quarter was dominated by the Tigers kicking to the scoring end of the ground, the Racecourse end, as Narre Warren appeared to succumb to finals anxiety and nerves.
Extremely uncharacteristic occurrences, such as players being unsure of whether a kick was intended for them coming out of the back half, or Tom Toner flying for a marking attempt that he was always going to battle to reach and being penalised as a result, exemplified the jitters the players were experiencing as the scoreboard looked unfavourably upon them.
Narre Warren lost concentration when Gibson was preparing to take a set shot, allowing captain Kudy Busoli to sneak into open space and convert a set shot.
The free kick after Toner’s unsuccessful aerial endeavours saw Woori Yallock take the ball the length of the field and Ben Monkhorst kick the Tigers’ second.
A scramble from a stoppage at the teeth of the Tigers’ goal bagged them their third of the afternoon, and a downfield free kick against Declan Brown led to a fourth of the term for Joshua Neal.
A desperate smother on the goal line from the Magpies prevented what looked like a certain fifth goal of term, and to trail by only 20 points despite the Tigers dominating field position was a positive outcome for Narre Warren.
The Tigers defenders held their positions in the back half did not allow for the Magpies’ dangerous half-forwards to run riot in open space as they have done on many occasions in 2024, while winning the contest at the source nullified the impact of the Magpies’ midfielders.
Narre Warren retreated to the quarter time huddle with one of the biggest deficits they had experienced all season, with Kidd likening their performance to being “deers in headlights”.
The second quarter was a complete contrast, led by Peter Gentile’s move into the middle of the ground.
He, Hayden Dwyer and Brad Scalzo were instrumental in a stunning second-quarter revival, where the Magpies kicked five goals to the Tigers’ one.
Jesse Davies converted a forced forward-half turnover and Gentile followed suit with a sweetly struck long set shot after earning a stoppage free kick.
Jordan Williams then received a yellow card for an incident with Tom Toner, and Will Howe kicked his first shortly after, finding himself in the right place at the right time when Dwyer’s set shot fell short.
The Magpies could not have asked for a better response after a sluggish opening, and now found themselves just two points behind.
Davies kicked his second of the afternoon, finding open space and being the final link in chain of a series of precise, short, sharp kicks from teammates further afield, and put the Magpies remarkably ahead by four points.
Disaster then struck in the form of Trent Papworth succumbing to another calf injury, leaving the Magpies a key pillar short in the back half, and one less big body to throw at Gibson, having now assumed the match-up.
When he eventually reached the bench, a heavy bag of ice was his companion for the remainder of the afternoon, with a line put through his prospects of returning after the game.
Siwes’ second of the afternoon, a tough set shot for a left footer in front of a passionate collection of Tigers supporters, made it five on the bounce for Narre Warren, and confirmed their ascendancy in the contest.
A much-needed stoppage goal from the Tigers just before the half stopped the rot at five, and saw Narre Warren reach the half with their beaks in front by five points.
Kurt Mutimer won the opening clearance of the second half but misses from Davies and Hamish West saw golden opportunities not taken.
Busoli made them pay at the other, after he and his teammates choked the ground and did not allow the Magpies to effectively exit from their back half.
The major re-established Woori Yallock’s lead, and Gibson’s first of the afternoon from a forward 50 ground ball pushed the margin to seven points.
He would not have the same impact shortly after, however, with Zietsman getting the better of him in a vital marking contest at half back.
The remaining captain helped to create a turnover in the back half and the rebound went straight down the middle of the ground, with Sharp finding Howe stumbling into an unguarded goal square.
Dan Toner then missed a chance to retake the lead, and Zach Monkhorst’s goal at the other end, in confusing circumstances, restored a seven-point lead.
Approaching time on in the third quarter, Woori Yallock looked set to hold on to that lead at the final break, but a third goal for Davies and a bonus from Tom Russell, the beneficiary of a 25-metre penalty and a stunning tackle from Josh West in the back half that denied a goal-scoring opportunity, gave Narre Warren the crucial momentum heading into the pivotal final quarter, with a spot in the grand final up for grabs.
It was now that Kidd invoked the passion for the jumper, and the players found the necessary resolve to keep the Tigers at bay.
By now, a slight breeze was favouring the scoring end, and Siwes’ third of the afternoon at a forward 50 stoppage gave his side an 11-point cushion after two minutes of play.
The Tigers then lifted intensity and possessed a considerable advantage in the territory battle for much of the quarter, but the Magpies would not be denied.
Dwyer and Gentile moving back behind the ball helped sniff out attacking thrusts, providing tremendous assistance for the unheralded stalwarts in the defensive half of Hayden Johnson, Jacob Mutimer and Josh West.
Despite their endeavour, the Tigers could not find the much-needed breakthroughs to claw back the Magpies’ lead.
Siwes’ fourth would slam the door shut on the Tigers’ hopes, and seal the Magpies’ progression to the final game of the season in the quickest possible manner once again.
For the Magpies, they flew back to Narre Warren with a fourth win of the season against a genuine premiership rival, and the target well and truly on their back as the team to beat in 2024.
Dwyer, Gentile, Johnson and Siwes were each exceptional in their respective roles, while Scalzo was singled-out by Kidd for his role on Tigers star Liam O’Dea.
Dwyer was deemed by his coach to have won the match-up against one of the competition’s best rucks in Zach Monkhorst, with his stocks continuing to skyrocket.
“He just competes and works really hard,” Kidd said of his ruck.
“We’ll have a look at the tap work and all that stuff, I think it was pretty even but I think Hayden around the ground was better.
“He understands the game really well and what he’s been able to do this year, for a guy who played about eight senior games (before this year), he’s been massive and continues to do it.”
Kidd assured that the Magpies will not treat next week as a rest in order to stay in peak condition for the upcoming grand final tussle.
Woori Yallock, meanwhile, will lick its wounds and prepare for a preliminary final on Sunday against Wandin.
Wandin made it comprehensive cut-throat final wins in consecutive weeks with a 69-point victory over Olinda Ferny Creek at Yarra Glen.
Both the offensive and defensive components of Wandin’s game were firing on all cylinders, holding the Bloods to just four goals in a 15.11 101 to 4.8 32 hammering.
After poor kicking for goal in the first quarter, which elicited just 2.5, Wandin broke clear in the second quarter with 6.2 to 1.1, leading by 45 points at the long break.
Not wanting to let their feet off the throat of the Bloods, they slammed on a further five goals in the final term in a clear four-quarter display from the reigning premier.
“We talked during the week about, the challenge for us as a group is to be able to put four quarters together, and any football side, is to put four quarters together and I think at this time of year, when you’re playing against opponents that deserve to be where they’re at, you give them momentum and they’re going to take advantage of it,” Wandin coach Nick Adam said.
“I was really pleased with the way we were able to execute for four quarters and that was probably the most pleasing part of the day.
“I felt our pressure was right up when we were playing well and it was played in our half for large chunks, which was pleasing.”
Todd Garner was given the defensive forward assignment on Matthew Scharenberg and quelled his influence, and with Aaron Mullett spending more time on the ball, Patrick Hodgett became the major beneficiary with more space inside 50, finishing with six majors.
Mullett, Harrison van Duuren and Chayce Black were among the Bulldogs’ best.
