Traditional rivals Monbulk and Emerald met in the Elimination Final of the Outer East Under 19s at Woori Yallock on Sunday 3 September. Over the past two seasons there has been nothing separating these sides. Last year it was Emerald by two, Monbulk by eight and then Emerald won the first Semi Final by 12 to end Monbulk’s year. This year it had been similarly close with Monbulk winning the first encounter and then Emerald squared the ledger in round eight.
The day started with a shroud of fog which just lifted as the game commenced at 10am. The ground was in immaculate condition as the ball was tossed up and after little more than a minute the Bombers had notched up their first goal. The Hawks responded with pressure football which yielded an equaliser a few minutes later. Finally towards the end of the quarter Monbulk broke free to score three quick goals in the last five minutes and headed to quarter time with a handy 19-point lead.
Although conditions were calm, Monbulk could not score at the Yellingbo end and it was Emerald’s constant attacks that eventuated in that side scoring three majors for the term, reducing the half time margin back to a solitary point in favour of the Hawks.
The third term was another tight tussle with Monbulk finding two goals three behinds while Emerald were restricted to just two points. The Bombers never concede a game and rebounded again in the final term as they inched towards Monbulk’s score. After getting to within seven points, a shot at goal drifted wide for a minor score. The Hawks rushed it to their forward line where they finally broke through for a score at that end, but it was just two behinds. Emerald then managed a goal with four minutes remaining and it then turned into a hectic finish where acts of desperation on both sides had the ball dangerously close to the Bombers goals but the Hawk defence held tight. With 30 seconds to go Monbulk finally cleared the ball out and hung on to win by the narrow margin of two points.
Monbulk will face Officer next week in the first Semi Final as they will continue to try and progress to the Grand Final. To win a premiership from fourth or fifth is never easy but they will remember that Emerald won the flag last year coming from the Elimination Final and in 2009, when Monbulk last won in the Unders, the Hawks had also come from the Elimination Final to take the prize.
Monbulk 6.7.43 def Emerald 6.5.41
Best:
Monbulk – Nick Taylor, Mackay Bateson, William Henderson, Tait Colee, Jayden Spencer, Riley Finlay.
Emerald – Nicholas Closter, Harrison Closter, Harry Spiteri, Jye Raistrick, Wil Gazzard, Ben Cramer.
Goals:
Monbulk – Nick Taylor 1, Kody Timms 1, Zeke Charlton 1, Mackay Bateson 1, Lachlan Smith 1, Nicholas Heron 1.
Emerald – Ben Cramer 4, Lawson Cocks 1, Oscar Dempsey 1.
