Lions’ thirds suffer heartbreaking loss

By Yarra Editor

Sep 24, 2024

A brilliant snap for goal by Thirds’ Baxter Donovan narrowed the Cobram lead to within a goal in the last quarter. Photo by Les_Garbutt

Cobram: 0.1, 1.3, 4.5, 4.9.33.

Mulwala: 1.0, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4.28.

Goals: Cobram: H. Hardwidge 2, B. Wren 1, H. Sneddon 1.

Mulwala: V. Kreeck 2, J. Sneddon 1, B. Donovan 1.

Best: Cobram: A. Champagne, P. Degei, A. Krause, H. Hardwidge, J. Woodhead, J. Webb.

Mulwala: A. Purtle, J. Ibbott, R. Bone, B. Johnson, M. Leith, V. Kreeck.

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The Thirds lineed up in anticipation before the match as the National Anthem was played and the hairs on the back of your neck stood up with excitement of what these young men had been able to achieve already in 2024 and what level they may reach in the hour that ensued.

Underrated by all those outside of Mulwala throughout the final’s series, SuperCoach Mark House pleaded with his charges to bring the same level of intensity that has brought them to the final day of the year and the team responded in the first quarter again.

Mulwala’s attack on the footy and pressure around the ball by all the team was paramount to them taking an early lead thanks to the speed of Jai Sneddon who was troubling the Cobram defenders early in the game.

Thirds’ Ryan Cameron looks to get the ball out under pressure. Photo by Les_Garbutt

The tight tussle suited Mulwala in the second quarter as they were able to win the contested inside footy and force it forward where Van Kreeck got on the end of a couple of great plays and used all his forward nouse to kick two goals in two minutes that had the crowd roaring.

Brock Johnson was playing brilliantly in the ruck and giving first options to midfielders Ollie Watson and Riley Bone who were playing all over their opponents, while Jordan Ibbott and Archie Purtle were as always miserly in defense and not giving the Cobram forwards any easy possessions that they had been afforded by other teams.

A five-minute patch in the 3rd quarter saw Cobram kick 3 quick goals to get in front and the ¾ time speech from Coach House inspired the boys to keep working for the final 17 minutes.

A brilliant Baxter Donovan snap for goal narrowed the Cobram lead to within a goal and as the entire team stepped up the intensity they ran out of time as they were charging home but just unlucky not to capitalise on the scoreboard and fell short by only five points in a thrilling match that the entire team and coaching staff should be extremely proud of the way they represented Mulwala.

By Yarra Editor