Newborough work their way to grand final

Newborough gradually worked their way to the grand final by beating Morwell East on Saturday in the preliminary final, 13-7 (85) to 10-11 (71).

The Dogs had to work hard to shake off a persistant Morwell East side who never gave up. The Dogs eventually won by 14 points but there were moments when an upset looked likely as Morwell East took the game up to Newborough and actually led up to seven minutes into the third quarter.

Morwell East kicked to the southern end and Brayden Darby-Lock marked and goaled for Morwell East to give them the first score.

Brendon Evans made it two goals but Newborough came fighting back with a speccie from Ash Dugan for his first, then Thomas Wilson scored a second, followed up with a goal to Josh Pearce.

Shaun Barnes, showing brilliance, scored twice for the East, the second a raking left footer from 50 metres and by 18 minutes there was six goals on the board at three each.

Josh Pearce got in for his second for Newborough as the siren rang which saw an entertaining quarter come to an end with Morwell East 4-3 to Newborough 4-1. Pearce and Mat Slattery had a good term for Newborough while Ben Marks and Brendan Evans were amongst the best for the East.

Newborough had plenty of players around the ball in the second term, forcing Morwell East to defend as Newborough were coming forward. Frank Marks, Harleigh Aarons and Frank Marks were busy for the East.

Darby-Lock goaled for the East after a crude tackle, but it was goal for goal as the Doggie’s Stuart Robertson running into an open goal replied and the difference was still a few points.

Enter the Shaun Barnes show, he scored two more goals in as many minutes and it was game as Pearce scored his second but Morwell East refused to die as Jarryd Lont scored Morwell East’s seventh goal. A further goal by the East saw them jump to a 13-point lead at 16 minutes.

Andrew Brown was gang tackled, got a free, handpassed to Brendon Evans for the East’s ninth goal. Morwell East was getting the ball from the centre with Brown controlling the ruck.

Newborough, not to be outdone, came back with a goal to Liam Carolan taking the East back to 12-points at half time. Morwell East had put in an excellent first half but for them the game wasn’t over yet.

A 50-metre penalty against Morwell East allowed Pearce to goal for Newborough within a minute of play starting and now Morwell East were under pressure. By the seventh minute Newborough had wiped off the deficit with scores level after a Stuart Robertson goal.

Joel Mitchell goaled to give Newborough the lead for the first time 10-5 to 9-5, and now the Dogs started to take control. Another goal by Mitchell had turned a two-goal deficit into a two-goal advantage, 11-5 to 9-5.

Darby-Lock twist and turned for his second, but a miss by Lachlan White on the siren saw Newborough five points up at three-quarter time 11-6 to Morwell East 10-7.

It took just on eight minutes for Newborough to turn the screws a bit tighter. Josh Hecker who had been in everything got Newborough further ahead when he goaled to give them a 10-point advantage.

Morwell East couldn’t find the big gaps and only minor scores resulted, at one point both teams had 19 effective shots at goal but Newborough had better figures of 13-6 to the East’s10-9.

Newborough started to control the ball as time ticked away for Morwell East with the Dogs holding on for a 14-point hard earned win.

Morwell East fought bravely but were beaten by a stronger Newborough side who now go on to play Yallourn-Yallourn North in next week’s grand final at Morwell.

For Newborough Joel Mitchell top scored with four as did Shaun Barnes of the East.

Best players were Josh Hecker, Mat Slattery, Phil Hicks and Joel Mitchell while for Morwell East Harleigh Aarons, Brandon Francis, Shaun Barnes and ruckman Andrew Brown.