Blake Metcalf-Holt
WOODSIDE has continued its redemption act.
A thrilling North Gippsland football preliminary final on Saturday concluded with the Wildcats advancing to the grand final after defeating Yallourn-Yallourn North 9.10 (64) to 8.13 (61).
The Wildcats now stride ahead to rectify their disappointing conclusion in last year’s grand final against their second-time-around opponents Traralgon-Tyers United.
Two weeks ago, the Wildcats and the Jets played in one of the most electric finals games in the qualifying final, with YYN prevailing by five points. The Jets were nowhere close to TTU in the second semi-final a week later, and Woodside bounced back, making light work of Heyfield to set up an anticipated rematch.
The match got underway at Heyfield, and a hot day vacant of the sensational wind from the week prior meant a cracking game was destined to be on display.
It was set out ideally for either, but it could immediately be sensed who was more desperate for the game from the get go.
Jets on-ballers cleared the ball with ease and found repeat chances inside their forward 50 time after time, much to the delight of league-leading goal kicker Dean MacDonald, who found space to boot two of the first three goals of the game.
Woodside appeared to be working on the back foot the entirety of the opening quarter, unable to put any forward pressure on YYN and disallowed consistent possession of the ball to get it to that point.
By the way the first term was playing out, it looked as though spectators would be seeing out the rest of their afternoon watching a domination at the hands of the Jets.
Despite not nailing near as many of their punches as they could have, the Jets still ended the first quarter leading drastically, 4.5 (29) to 0.1 (1).
Woodside knew it needed to lift, and playing-coach Michael Stockdale made sure to remind his men there was no going back from this if they were to continue down this path – they had to get back out there and take back control.
It could be felt upon the opening bounce of the second quarter that things were about to even themselves out in terms of desperation.
The Jets still found time to recoup and possess the ball despite some increased pressure from the Wildcats, hitting the scoreboard early in the second for another minor score that reversely put the ball in the hands of Woodside. The Wildcats could then begin to chip it around and pick off players where they chose, giving them time to steadily place the ball further afield.
Michael O’Sullivan found himself close in range to nail Woodside’s first major of the day that would dramatically lift their spirits and confidence.
Working on a high, momentum had momentarily shifted the Wildcats’ way, nailing the next two goals off the back of Jai Williams and O’Sullivan to bring the game within nine points.
But just as Woodside began to creep back, YYN began to roll once again, clogging the ball in its forward half and seeing constant pressure acts from its attacking players.
MacDonald collected his third goal early and Josh Keyhoe pummelled through numerous Woodside defenders to line-up for his first of the match that sent the game right back over a 20-point margin in time for the main break.
The Jets had withstood a momentary bump from Woodside to still be ahead 6.8 (44) to 3.3 (21). Although, as far as the Wildcats were concerned, they had found all the credence they needed to look forth towards success.
Out of the gate in time for the second half, Woodside began to play out its game with a force and purpose.
Ruckman Ryan Foat patrolled the ground and laid the ground works for the midfielders to slide through and get the ball forward, beginning to see success again and again, which was seen early with a quick goal from Williams for his second.
Using the entirety of the ground and disrupting any attempt the Jets made to elevate the ball over the back of play by setting up one or even two players behind the ball, allowed the Wildcats to constantly penetrate the ball into their forward line and tire the YYN defenders.
O’Sullivan continued to be a pest for YYN. With the game sitting at an 11-point margin, he stretched out to grab a tough mark with Jets’ Campbell MacInnes right on his shoulder, giving O’Sullivan a set shot just inside the 50 metre arch in front of the YYN bench.
The pair within the match-up would be locked into a battle all day, with each getting the better of the other on a handful of occasions, however, in this moment, with the tides turning, O’Sullivan went back and nailed the shot to bring the game to its closest margin since the earliest point in the contest – under a goal in it.
Woodside outscored the Jets 26-8 to conclude the third quarter. Sitting at a five-point game, it was now all-or-nothing.
As much as YYN was holding on desperately, and continuing to fight it out in the contest, Woodside now appeared to be fully in the driver’s seat despite still looking at a deficit heading into the final quarter.
Taking aside the actual score, it was all even on the field with the next 20 minutes determining the second grand finalist for 2024.
The next three scoring opportunities at either end went awry, with Foat, MacDonald and YYN’s Dylan Bath all missing their chances to either extend their lead or hit the front.
Drama then ensued unexpectedly at the worst possible time for the Jets after backmen Darcy Shellcot nailed a hard bump to stop a sure goal for the Wildcats that then unleashed a fray in Woodside’s forward 50. Shellcot was sent off for a direct hit – leaving the Jets down a man for the next 15 minutes.
Woodside immediately took its first lead all day and now with Jets playing 18 against 17, it was going to require them to dig as deep as humanely possible. Beforehand, YYN was already struggling to exit the ball from their back line and move downfield – things were only getting even more difficult at this point.
With repeat entry after repeat entry for the Wildcats, the undermanned Jets defence fought valiantly, but were finally worked down with Hamish McLeod given a free kick goal that sent Woodside ahead by nine points with well under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
YYN responded out of the centre bounce and worked it around laterally, before popping the ball over the top for MacDonald to create some magic.
Not able to collect the mark, he still found time to win the ball against three Woodside defenders, picking the ball up on the boundary before turning inboard to hit Bath 40m out almost dead in front of goal.
When lining up, there was a hit off the ball that sent Bath into the goal square, guaranteeing the Jets a goal and bringing it back to four points still in favour of the Wildcats.
Working frantically now and still working against a free man, the Jets piled on enormous amounts of pressure as they locked the ball in their forward half relentlessly.
Forcing a ball out on the full, YYN playing-coach Tom Hutton quickly recovered the ball and immediately sent the ball in off his powerful left boot.
The ball fell perfectly and forward Lachlan Reese exceptionally held the mark over two defenders. Rees went back, on a tight angle around 25m out, with the chance to break the hearts of Woodside for the second time in three weeks.
The shot sprayed right for a point, cutting the margin to three points, but with little time remaining.
The siren went a minute later, with polar opposite reactions playing out at Heyfield.
Woodside players embraced each other and exited the ground with immense jubilation.
Williams (three goals) was best afield for the winners, followed by Foat, McLeod, O’Sullivan (four goals), Mark Collison and Ben Johnson.
Lucas Fry, Hutton, MacInnes, Jai Massese, Mitch Luck and Owen Budge performed admirably in defeat.
