LEETON-Whitton come from behind to earn 10.16 (76) to 7.9 (51) win over Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes in the qualifying final.
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The Crows started the match off in an intense and closely-matched battle with the Goannas.
Trading goals and fighting to keep their respective seasons alive, the Crows clawed their way to a 3.1 (19) to 2.3 (15) lead at quarter-time.
However, Mangoplah CUE fought back with three goals and held the Crows back to only one of their own.
By half-time, the Goannas held an eight-point lead over Leeton-Whitton.
“We had a fair bit of the footy and applied a lot of pressure, but our decision making in the first half really let us down,” Crows coach Jade Hodge said.
“At half-time, I asked the boys to fix that.
“I was sure if the boys worked on that we’d get on top.”
The Crows would fight back, but struggled to keep the pace set by the Goannas.
However, Leeton-Whitton managed to narrow the gap and were within striking range at three quarter-time.
“I was really happy with the third quarter,” Hodge said.
Starting off the fourth quarter behind by a mere five points, the Crows would throw everything they could at the Goannas.
Able to stop Mangoplah CUE’s attacks, Leeton-Whitton launched into their own and easily punched their way through.
The Crows were able to take advantage of the momentum they had built and crushed the Goannas, holding them to only two points in the final quarter.
Leeton-Whitton answered back in the final term with four goals and eight points of their own to dismiss the side.
“We made the most of our opportunities and we executed,” Hodge said.
“I thought we had control of the game for most of the day and to their credit they kept kicking away.
“They never dropped their heads and we ended up coming away with a good win.”
The Crows will face the Wagga Tigers in Ganmain on Saturday in the second semi final.
The Tigers finished in first place on the ladder this year and the Crows are expecting a battle.
“If we do what we did yesterday, (against Wagga) and apply pressure, don’t let them get out in the open and close down their space, they’ll make mistakes,” Hodge said.
Goals:
Jade Hodge 3, Lucas Meline, Bryce O’Garey, Luke Potter, Thomas Meline, Mitch Hardie, Toby Conroy, and Mitch Conlan
Best Players:
Ben Curley, Jayden Lehman, Lucas Meline, Toby Conroy, Neil Irwin, Bryce O’Garey
