FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
WOODSIDE advanced to its fourth consecutive North Gippsland Football Netball League grand final after convincingly defeating Heyfield by 73 points in the preliminary final.
At Gaskin Park, Churchill, the reigning back-to-back premier was too strong and too determined after quarter time.
The scoreboard read 20.10 (130) to 8.9 (57) as Wildcats players walked of the field chuffed for a fourth year in a row.
A hot contest began, as both sides were out to prove a point and book their spot in the grand final.
Heyfield laid the first punch just a minute into the game.
A long bomb from Finn Stephenson was put through, but returning to the centre bounce, the Wildcats responded instantly.
A few minutes passed, with Woodside keeping the ball locked in its forward half of the ground, leading to playing-coach Hudson Holmes connecting on a major from a tough angle.
Facing a deficit and not wanting to let the game get out of reach so early, Heyfield’s Kyle Graham became lively around the ball.
Full forward Leigh Brown created a contest, with Rowan Missen on his tail from the very beginning of the game. Graham was able to get right to the fall of the ball multiple times, as the other Woodside defenders were caught lacking as he converted an easy goal.
Graham made it one more before quarter time arrived close from home, to push the Kangaroos into the lead at quarter time, 3.2 (20) to 2.3 (15).
While it appeared as though the crowd gathering at Churchill would be in for another close game between the two sides, Woodside decided to take it up a level.
The premiership gene came pouring out for the Wildcats as play resumed, banging on six of the seven goals scored in the second term.
It began in the midfield, with the effort to negate the impact of Heyfield’s star on-ballers such as Mitch Bennett and Robert McMillan, while ruckman and Woodside captain Ryan Foat found his teammates down low.
The ball was then pounded into the the Wildcats attack, seeing the likes of Holmes and Luke Johnson getting on the end of it.
The inability for Heyfield to move the ball from defence down forward saw many of the Kangaroos’ live wires left cold for an extended period of time, as Woodside stretched its lead.
The Wildcats led by 31 points at halftime.
Tinkering a bit in return, Heyfield was able to work well beginning the second half, securing consecutive goals out of the main break.
While cutting the deficit to under 20 points again, that would be the closet the Kangaroos got for the rest of the day.
Woodside, being in this position multiple times across the last half-decade, having played in four previous preliminary finals, winning three of them, knew that it had to keep its intensity up to halt any run from Heyfield.
Quickly sending through goals from Holmes, Jeremy Morgan, Brody Stainer and Ashton Janssen, what once appeared to be a real danger game quickly ballooned out to close to 50 points upon three quarter time.
Knowing that a comeback would require unbelievable mental strength and determination, Woodside did the necessary deeds to withstand any thought crossing either sides mind of that playing out.
The Wildcats were even greater to finish, scoring seven of the final nine goals of the match.
Luke Johnson was a standout for Woodside with five goals, with Holmes matching that figure as well.
Jeremy Morgan, Robert Michaelides, Joh Fythe, Josh Morgan and Ben Johnson were also significant players.
Stephenson, Jack Christian, Joel Lambourn, playing-coach Daniel Bedggood, Kyle Graham and Tyler Anderson were noted for Heyfield.
The Kangaroos would be disappointed by the final score at the weekend, but are still equipped with young talent alongside its best veteran players.
In contrast, Woodside righted its wrongs from two weeks ago, in which the Wildcats succumbed to the same Heyfield side by two points in the qualifying final, and now look towards an exciting matchup against season powerhouse Cowwarr.
The Wildcats are the only team to defeat the Saints this season, causing Cowwarr’s first blemish all year long in Round 13 by 28 points.
While not favourites in the upcoming grand final, it can be argued that Woodside hasn’t been in any of the last three deciders they’ve played in, inclusive of its last two wins.
Traralgon Tyers United finished top of the ladder the last three seasons, having won through to the grand final outright each time.
Much interest surrounds Woodside’s senior full forward Michael O’Sullivan, who has played reserves the last two games due to injury, and it is a question whether he’ll be recalled to the top grade or support the reserves in their efforts for a first flag.
UNLIKE the senior side, Woodside’s reserves will be set on redemption after two previous grand final fails.
The Wildcats qualified for the 2026 reserves grand final by defeating minor premier Cowwarr in a thrilling preliminary final, 7.6 (48) to 6.6 (42).
Starting strong, Woodside created a necessary gap to lead at the end of the first quarter by 20 points, which gave them a cushion through the proceeding terms.
Cowwarr got within two points midway through the fourth quarter, but Trent Askew nailed a goal soon after to secure the win for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats, having lost the previous two reserves grand finals, will face Heyfield this Saturday.
SIMILAR redemption is in the works in the thirds grand final.
Churchill knocked out minor premier Rosedale in a home preliminary final, 7.14 (56) to 3.7 (25), setting up a grand final rematch with Heyfield.
The Cougars were but moments away from premiership victory last year, celebrating upon the final siren believing they’d won.
However, disaster struck after players became aware that there was a scoreboard error, which shuffled everyone off the field and pushed the match into extra time.
Heyfield went on to win the grand final.
This year, the Kangaroos are coached by former Hawthorn player Adrian Cox. His son Phoenix now drops back for the thirds after the seniors succumbed at the weekend.
