Sport
5 September, 2022
Trentham keep grand final dream alive
TRENTHAM 10.9 (69) def NAVARRE 7.3 (45) Trentham kept their dreams of a first premiership since 1994 alive after a pulsating encounter with Navarre, which was decided in the last 10 minutes. The scoreline didn’t seem to do the game justice — at...
TRENTHAM 10.9 (69) def NAVARRE 7.3 (45)
Trentham kept their dreams of a first premiership since 1994 alive after a pulsating encounter with Navarre, which was decided in the last 10 minutes.
The scoreline didn’t seem to do the game justice — at the 15 minute mark of the last quarter, there was just one point separating the two teams. However, four goals from the Saints, with two of them coming from Riley Matricardi in quick succession, was able to tip the balance their way when it mattered most.
Trentham were looking to avoid a repeat of the slow start which ultimately cost them a place in the preliminary final against Harcourt, where they conceded five goals in the opening quarter, but it was not to be. They conceded the only two goals of the first quarter, with Cody Driscoll kicking the first goal of the game, before Ash Driscoll was able to help give the Hoppers an 11-point quarter time lead.
When Cody kicked his second goal of the game, it meant that the Hoppers had the opening three goals, leaving the Saints desperate for a response.
Thankfully, they were able to do so, keeping their season alive in the process. Liam Bianco — one of the Saints’ best for the afternoon, as well as the season, responded with two goals, bookending a goal from Luke Whitehouse, which gave the Saints a three-point lead at half time.
The third quarter was a thriller, with both teams taking control at different points. Goals to Jake Keogh and Zach Gervasoni bookended a period where Navarre had control of the game, thanks to goals from Cody and Ash Driscoll which had given Navarre a handy lead midway through the third quarter. At the final change, it was the Hoppers leading by the most miniscule of margins.
It was a titanic struggle for much of the last quarter. Cooper Webber-Mirkin was able to land the first blow of the last quarter, with a goal to put the Saints back in front, but Billy Driscoll responded to give Navarre back the lead.
Two behinds from the Saints — including a great effort from Keogh, where he smothered a Navarre kick in the goal square, helped give them the lead, before Jobe Dowling was able to give them a seven-point lead.
The turning point came immediately afterwards. From the bounce, the Hoppers were able to put the ball deep into attack, into the hands of Cody Driscoll, who was able to take a mark and run into an open goal. However, his shot at goal on the run cannoned into the post. From the ensuring kick-in, the Saints were able to take the ball the length of the ground, with Matricardi kicking a goal to cap off a dramatic 11-point swing — instead of the Hoppers reducing the margin to just one point, the Saints had extended their lead to 12.
Matricardi then added a second from a set shot moments later to effectively seal the game for the Saints, before Whitehouse goaled on the siren to rub more salt in the Navarre wounds.
Trentham coach Rick Dowling was relieved to get the job done, thrilled with the work of his back six to ensure they would live to fight another day.
“Navarre have really dangerous forwards. We knew we had to be on them, and their midfield is really classy too. Their ball use inside was really good. We were mindful that if they were able to use it well, they were going to be hard to stop. I thought our backs did a really good job, particularly Benjamin Cass at full-back and Harrison Knight at centre-half-back,” he said.
Dowling paid tribute to the travelling group of supporters, which he felt gave the Saints an edge.
“We’ve got a really good group. We’re a good club, we love to travel as a supporter group — they aren’t afraid to go distances, and we love to get behind each other whether it’s for netball or football, and it really helped us today,” he said.
Dowling was full of praise for the work of Bianco, Matricardi and Webber-Mirkin — with the latter setting the standard early in the last quarter with some big marks across half-forward. He also revealed that he would hope Alister Ferrier would make his return to the team next week.
“Liam Bianco came into the club at the start of this year, we knew he was fit, but he is so clean with his ball use. He has great core strength and he doesn’t get pushed off the ball. In the third quarter, he kept getting the ball forward — he’s been a massive asset for us,” he said.
“Riley Matricardi is another one. He worked his backside off last year, wants to get the best out of himself, and was rewarded.
“We normally play Cooper Webber-Mirkin at full-forward, but with Al Ferrier out with an ankle injury today, we played him across half-forward, and his effort was huge. Started off the game a bit slow, but finished off really well. At times, he was stuck in two-on-ones in marking contests, but held his own.
“Hopefully we can get Ferrier back, he’ll make a big difference for us. His work rate is enormous.”
The challenge of Carisbrook is not lost on Dowling, who he believes are the best side remaining in the competition — with their game in round one at Princes Park still fresh in the memory bank.
“We played Carisbrook in round one at Princes Park, and we got over the line. I’ve said from the start that they were the best side in it. They’ve played a couple of games with different players we haven’t seen yet, so they’ll be different again next week, even though we’ve got over the line twice,” he said.
“Both times, they’ve come at us and we had to hold on in the last quarter, so we know they’re fit, and we have to be on our game to win. They are the benchmark of the competition.”
The Saints and Redbacks will fight it out for the second spot in the grand final on Sunday afternoon at Princes Park.