DAVID HOBBS
HDFNL – Senior finals
HARROW Balmoral’s Senior Southern Roos and coach Jai Thompson will play for a trifecta of flags – their fifth in six complete seasons of football – when they line-up in the Horsham District Football League grand final on September 13.
Just 20 minutes of power football and 80 minutes of persistence at the windswept Kalkee ground on Saturday, won the Roos the fast-track to the big dance.
Things looked dire at half time for Harrow Balmoral; there had been plenty of effort in the first half, but Noradjuha Quantong had taken their chances better and led by 13 points.
They had kicked four goals, one behind from five scoring shots and the Roos had frittered-away their chances to have just a solitary major from seven scoring chances.
The Roos were still in the game was due to their back line – Archer Cameron marking and intercepting well in the howling cross breeze, the veteran, Clint Robinson, using all his guile to read the drop of the ball, Matt Jones as sure as ever and Michael Close showing his usual composure, despite the Bombers’ attempts to swamp him whenever they could.
With Will Burbury off the ground the Roos backed themselves into the northern end, which has 105 wind towers as a backdrop.
Michael Close went to centre half forward, Cody Deutscher went on-ball and with Anthony Close putting the ball where his onballers could win centre clearance, the Roos got on a roll.
Six goals came in the space of 20 minutes of exhilarating football, Michael marking, Simon sharking, Ethan Appleton alive, Pete Staude surging and the Roos’ supporters rejoicing.
A 23-point margin at three-quarter-time was a good result, but not completely safe and for the next half an hour, Harrow Balmoral applied constant pressure.
The Bombers missed shots they would rue, kicking seven behinds in the last quarter and only managing two majors.
A goal for the Roos to Fergus Roberts gave just a bit of breathing space and Harrow Balmoral battled to defend the margin for the last five minutes; they had the ball in-hand near goal when the siren sounded.
The final margin was 11 points.
Across the day Josh Grant was outstanding, his poise and class coupled with his preparedness to do the gritty stuff made him close to the Roos’ best on his wing, Brock Summerhayse was a constant option on the other wing, Charlie Johnson gave dash and a marking option either deep in defence or in the midfield.
Mitch Grant worked and worked all day, Jai Thompson led like he always does and Lachie Stevenson was fearless and won lots of the ball.
It was one of Harrow Balmoral’s great victories, a total team effort in tough windy conditions at the venue that provides the toughest and windiest conditions, but the surface was good and now the Roos go into their 16th grand final in 27 completed seasons.
It is hard to think Noradjuha Quantong will not be their opponent at Natimuk on 13 September and the Bombers will be a tough nut to crack again, but the Roos will be there waiting.
