Ash Johnston looks to boot the ball down the field. Photo Credit – david_m_ingold_images.
The Murrumbateman Eagles soared into the grand final, but not without a significant challenge from a determined Molonglo Juggernauts side in a qualifying final at Kingston Oval.
On a decent day with little wind and no rain, the two teams battled fiercely in a contest that, according to Eagles coach Andy Ingold, was “a typical finals game of footy.”
The first half was a tight, tactical affair. The Juggernauts, fielding a much stronger side than in their previous encounter, matched the Eagles stride for stride. They moved the ball quickly, putting the Eagles’ defence to the test. After the first quarter, the scoreboard read a mirror image: 2.1.13 to 2.1.13.
The second quarter played out with the same intensity, and at halftime, the teams remained locked in a stalemate, with both sides on 4.2.26. As Coach Ingold put it, “It was a nice hit out, very tight in the first and second.”
The coach acknowledged the Juggernauts’ tenacity. “They were hard at it. They moved the ball very quickly, but we were able to weather that in the first half and run it out in the second.”
The tide began to turn in the third quarter as the Eagles’ superior conditioning and structured play started to show. The team kicked away, with John Leayr and Josh Brittliff having “top games” and doing their “usual thing in the middle all day.” By the final break, the Eagles had established a comfortable lead of 7.8.48 to 5.4.34.
With full control in the fourth quarter, Murrumbateman extended its lead, ultimately securing a decisive 11.8.74 to 5.6.36 victory.
The win secures the Eagles a direct path to the grand final, allowing them a week’s rest while the rest of the competition battles it out.
Molonglo, meanwhile, will face Cooma in an elimination final this weekend. Coach Ingold noted that Cooma is “hitting their straps at the right end of the season” and is a team the Eagles will need to prepare for, but their focus remains on seeing who emerges from the final before they finalise a game plan.
Reflecting on the team’s remarkable season, Ingold expressed his pride. “I was hopeful of a strong season, but I did not expect this,” he said. “To come from where we were is a remarkable effort by all involved, especially the players who came on and committed for the year. It’s been a pretty good season, been very fun and just a good year.”
Despite the team’s impressive performance, Ingold had one minor complaint about the qualifying final experience. “The only disappointing thing was that there was no canteen or anything like that,” he said with a laugh, but quickly added that on the field, “it was pretty good.”
The victory marks a significant milestone for the club, which looks forward to the grand final with a blend of confidence and anticipation.
– Tully Potts
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