KANIVA LEEOR UNITED 9.12 (66) d PENOLA 7.14 (56)
PENOLA’S hopes of a Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara A Grade football flag this year were dashed on the weekend as the side suffered a 10-point defeat at the hands of Kaniva Leeor United.
The do-or-die semi-final saw the Eagles fall short, after a slow opening term saw a 20-point margin in favour of KL.
The wind played its part, but in the second term the Eagles were unable to capitalise and still trailed by 12 points at the long break.
That meant a long road home after half time, but the third term saw Penola only able to add one more major score, while KL managed a further two.
In the final stanza it was all on the line and the Eagles lifted, with three major scores to two, but it was all too little, too late.
Brad and Adam Merrett were well marked and kept goal-less as a result, while young Harry Porter stepped up to slot home two, playing forward to cancel out the extra KL player in defence.
Jordan Galpin and Josh Currie also managed two goals, while Simon Berkefeld finished with a single major.
For coach Matt Tilby it was a disappointing end to the season.
“We went up there reasonably confident we could get the job done,” he said.
“We were a bit stiff the week before, felt we had a few match ups in place and thought we were capable of getting the job done.
“Unfortunately we did not execute it on the day.”
While Tilby said the wind did effect the contest slightly, it was more the execution that let his side down.
“In the third quarter we had a huge amount of the play, but could not kick goals,” he said.
“They kicked two goals late which nearly broke our back.
“We did all the work and had the ball down there, so that was disappointing.”
Again a slow opening term set the scene for the game, which Tilby said came from missed opportunities.
“We had a couple of opportunities early to kick goals and we did not,” he said.
“They just worked pretty hard and got on top of us.
“We fought back and with a few minutes to go in the game we launched a bit of an attack to no avail.
“As a result that is the season done and dusted unfortunately.”
While Brad and Adam Merrett are always a focus up forward, Tilby said they were well covered and his side did not use the ball well enough in attack.
He said Porter played an impressive role, after usually running off the back line.
“Kaniva play an extra behind the ball, so Harry went forward to give us one on one,” he said.
“He certainly held his own there and has had a good season.
“Josh Currie’s form late in the year has been fantastic as well and I have been really happy with his last few games.
“Jordan Galpin has also had a great year coming back after a knee reconstruction.
“He is tough as anything and is a huge part of what we do at Penola.”
Overall Tilby said it was a disappointing way to finish what had started on such a positive note.
“I think we definitely had the potential to do better, but unfortunately it did not go to plan,” he said.
“We started the season really well, but we hit a bit of a hurdle.
“I thought we fought back really well, but it was a bit of a heart-breaking loss up at Kaniva, where we were in the box seat to win, but we let it slip.
“That is probably the one that hurt the most.”
Despite the season now over, Tilby said there was plenty to take from the year.
“The development of the young guys has been fantastic,” he said.
“The likes of Sam Klemm, Harry Porter and Josh Currie – they have really cemented spots in the senior side.
“Overall they are a reasonably tight bunch of guys and I think if they can all stick together they will have success.”
Tilby noted the value of the experience of Brad Merrett returning.
He said Merrett had moved back to Penola and believed he signed on for 2020.
He said Scott Merrett was instrumental in the Eagles campaign, with his tough style of football worthy of his captaincy.
Brock Egan and Brad Bryant joined the side this year from the Western Border league, which Tilby said was also invaluable to the development to the club.
“I am pretty confident those two boys will stick around next year,” he said.
“They have both been good assets to the club, probably as much in the way the conduct themselves and the professional manner they go about things.
“They have played some great footy as well, but the way they train and go about it has been good for our young fellows to watch and learn from.”
Tilby has stepped down as senior coach, but is unsure what the club’s plans are in that respect.
