Match Report

First Semi Final

STRATHMORE: 17.16 (118)  DEFEATED  KEILOR: 9.8 (62)
After a solid win against Doutta Stars in the final round, we headed to the open plains of Greenvale to face off against Keilor in the elimination final.  At the selection table the coaches had a full list to choose from, with Reynolds back in for the unlucky Al Rae.  The wins was again present but not as severe as recent weeks.  Keilor won the toss and kicked to the southern end of the ground.

From the very first minutes of the game it was noticeable that the Mores were out to play.  In the tricky conditions Adam Winter was on fire up forward with two early goals to set Keilor on the back foot.  To complement our forward moves, the backline was fantastic in stopping Keilor’s moves up the ground.  O’Brien, Scerri, Fitzgerald and May were all doing well around the ground and we were getting plenty of dash from the centre.  We wasted a number of shots at goal by poor reading of the wind and managed 3.6 for the term to Keilor’s’ 1.2.

In the second term the Mores were on fire.  An early goal to Winter and another to Harvey set up the Mores for a solid quarter.  Our backline was again fantastic in repelling the Keilor attacks at goal.  Unfortunately we lost Xavier Campbell to a knee injury in the first half, but this didn’t slow the Mores.  Further goals to Winter and Harvey had Keilor struggling, and when Matty Knight rolled through our fifth for the term, the Mores went to the long break with a 39 point lead.

The third term saw the Mores crank up the pace.  An early goal to O’Brien and number five to Winter had Keilor in disarray.  We were winning all over the ground and Keilor were helpless in response.  More goals to Harvey and Fitzgerald before Cam Symes belted through another two, to have the Mores up by 55 at the final change.

Keilor had first blood in the final term but Morrell soon squared the ledger.  The remainder of the term was fairly even but the Mores still outscored their opposition by a solitary point.  As the final siren sounded, the Mores had knocked out the reigning premiers by 56 points, and will move on to the Prelim next week against Greenvale who were absolutely flogged by Marby Park to the tune of 85 points.  Every player can hold their head high after a great four quarter effort, and a great opportunity to take out Greenvale next week at Windy Hill.

Goals: Winter 5, Harvey 4, Symes 3, Knight, O’Brien, Fitzgerald, Morrell & Reynolds 1.
Media Best: Hand, O’Brien, Winter, Fitzgerald, Little, Scerri.