Prelim Finals Fever Hits Boiling Point at Wimbledon Park

We now know the lie of the land in the Grand Finals, after a brilliant day of footy at Wimbledon Park. There were twists, turns, momentum shifts, heroic tackles, great marks and some spectacular goals, as the Swans (both varieties), Demons, Hawks, Giants, Wildcats and Lions all took centre stage.

Once the poo-pickers had done their thing, we were ready for the off.

The opening game saw the London Swans take on their namesakes from Sussex for a place in the Mens Socials Final. In a tense opening period little quarter was asked or given but a behind a piece their was little to trouble to scoreboard, and we went in at the end of the first quarter locked at 0.1.1 each. London started the second quarter on the front foot, but were unable to find the opening blow, albeit going close when Toby Sanderson was just unable to drag in a mark close to the goalline and it was Sussex who struck first with a neat finish by Steven Welton giving them the lead. A couple of behind went through the sticks, before the London boys were marched forward 50m and Tyson Wyett put them ahead from close range, and the big break came with London 1.3.9 to 1.2.8 ahead.

With a slight breeze at their backs it was London who dominated much of the the third quarter, pinning Sussex back inside their defensive third, but it eventually took a push in the back on Zachary Hancock to give them the chance to open up a lead, and Hancock duly obliged to send the Londoners into the final quarter with a 2.6.18 to 1.2.8 lead.

London stretched their lead early in the final quarter through Nic Dazeley and the icing on the cake came through a goal on the run by Jake Peachey effectively sealed the win. It wasn't without a little scare though as Sussex launched a last ditch attempt to get back into the game and two goals in the final few minutes will have caused a few nerves. First up a weaving run and favourable bounce saw Bryce Drowley bring them back into the game, and after a penalty marched them forward 50, skipper Joe Moore had the last say on the Sussex season from close range. The final siren went with London 4.8.32 to 3.2.20 winners.

The Grand Final now pits the top two in the division with the minor Premiers the Wandsworth Demons awaiting the Swans. The sides were separated by percentage over the regular season. Two wins for the Demons, once in the regular season and once in the Qualifying Finals will no doubt have them in confident mood.

Game 2 saw the North London Lions take on the South East London Giants in the Womens Conference. The "prize" for the winners was a Grand Final match against the all-conquering Wimbledon Hawks.

Despite missing two of the leading scorers in the Conference division, Sarah Marschke and Amy Pattison, the Lions made a strong start and had the Giants on the backfoot from the off, but despite a spell of pressure it wasn't until midway through the quarter that the struck the opening goal. The ball pinged around in the Giants goal square before dropping to Sarah McKenzie, who prodded home, and then let out a delightful squeal of joy in celebration. A late behind in the quarter for the Giants, led superbly by the excellent Susie Carr, on her last appearance for the club, gave them a bit of hope. We went in at the end of the first quarter with the Lions 1.1.7 to 0.1.1 ahead.

The Lions, with the play of Cherry Halfyard, at the heart of everything they did, stretched the lead in the second quarter, thanks to a close range finish from Kerryn Musson, giving them a half time lead of 2.2.14 to 0.1.1. Another goal early in the third quarter effectively sealed the deal for the Lions. Avneet Bhandal collecting the ball and finding McKenzie who took a mark and converted to increase their lead, whilst once again holding the Giants scoreless. Going into the final quarter the Lions led 3.2.20 to 0.1.1

The Giants pushed hard to get back into the game, but the Lions were still dominating, although the Giants did add another behind to their tally, whilst keeping the Lions blank. Nice touch near the end as the Giants bought on league Co-Chair Maz Graham for her retirement appearance. The siren went with the Lions 3.2.20 to 0.2.2 winners.

The Lions now have to do what nobody else has done this season and defeat the Wimbledon Hawks. Games between the sides have been close, so it should be an absolute cracker.

Moving onto the game of the day, possibly the game of the season, and it was the Mens Conference clash between the Wandsworth Demons and the Wimbledon Hawks. The game had everything - although some of it may have been missed due to the excitement...seriously, multiple conversations between yours truly and the clubs and even now still not 100% sure we have it down accurately.

The Demons got off to an absolute flyer and were two goals clear inside the opening ten minutes. Oscar Gibbons notched early on for the Dees and shortly after the lively Michael Fraser spun out of a couple of challenges and his low efforts skipped over the line, and the Dees were on their way. The Hawks responded and Billy Glasgow bought them back into the game with a set shot, however his celebration was fooling no-one (well, apart from yours truly and a few others on the sideline) but an eagle eyed umpire saw it had only gone for a behind, but the Hawks were on the board. The Hawks notched some proper points shortly after when Jeremy Dobson marked in the 50 and his shot dragged the Hawks back into the game. We went into the first quarter break with the Demons holding a 2.4.16 to 1.2.8 lead.

The contest was becoming fiercely contest with tempers occasionally flaring, but causing players from both sides to rush in, but in fairness it was more a wrestle than anything truly untoward. Jacob Wheelahan then took centre stage and took the Hawks into the lead. First up a great mark was followed by an excellent set shot from wide on the right, followed by another ball into the 50 where Wheelahan marked and scored and a topsy turvy game saw the Hawks hold a 3.3.21 to 2.5.17 lead at the big break.

The third quarter was truly barmy, with the Hawks stretching away, the Dees fighting back and the Hawks responding. Wheelahan notched his third in bizarre fashion, having fired wide left from a set shot, he was marched forward retook the kick and scored. The Hawks were now flying and after a well worked move, Wheelahan found Dobson and he converted on the run, before Glasgow got on the scoresheet for real, firing home a set shot. Eighteen unanswered points had seemingly given the Hawks an unassailable lead, but the Demons turned up the heat and came fighting back. A missed challenge in the middle of the park was too cost the Hawks dear as the ball found Cooper who converted on the run and the Dees with further goals from outstanding team moves by Samuel Jensen and the ever lively Cooper had seen the Dees reduce the arrears back to eight points. Once again momentum swung the other way. Zach Ryan found Wheelaham whose quick handpass found Glasgow who scored from distance, and then the Hawks rounded off the quarter with Mitch Bloomfield find Wheelahan for another goal, and we went into the fourth quarter with the Hawks 8.4.52 to 5.5.35

And breathe...

Tom Donohoe pulled the Demons back into the game early in the fourth, before that rarest of things, a goal from Hawks veteran Drew LeRoy with accompanying look of shock looked to have finally sealed the deal. Cooper scored again late on, but it was too little too late, and the Hawks progressed 10.4.64 to 7.7.49.

Hawks now take on the London Swans in the final, but too both players - thank you and wow.

The penultimate game saw the Minor Premier London Swans take on the Wandsworth Demons in the Womens Premiership. The Swans would have been stung on missing out on a place in the Grand Final after their loss to the Wildcats in the Qualifying Final but with less than a handful of points separating the sides in their two regular season clashes, one win apiece, they knew they were in for a tough game and so it proved.

Two extremely well matched sides threw everything at each other in a contest that had you griped right up until the final siren. It has to be said it was an extremely sedate opening quarter - maybe the players were still letting everybody catch their breath after the previous Hawks/Demons clash, but once it got going, it was a nailbiter. The Swans fired off a couple of behinds and took a 0.2.2 to 0.0.0 lead into the first quarter break.

The Demons came out positively in the second quarter and early goals from Katie Whitefield and Lolita Viska, the first of a triple from the dangerous forward took them into the lead. When Viska then superbly gathered a ball into the 50 and hooked home an effort on the turn it was three unanswered goals for the Demons and looking like a healthy lead going into the break. The Swans though are made of stern stuff and after Eleanor Meegan was marched forward 50 she converted a set shot to send us in at the big break with a 3.1.19 to 1.2.8 scoreline in favour of the Demons.

The Swans narrowed the gap further in the third quarter after superb work by Chelsea Fisher saw a Demon penalised for holding the ball and from the set shot Fisher dragged the Swans back into the contest but with a slight breeze and the slope (possibly, on a very undulating pitch) at the backs they were unable to force home their advantage and the Demons retained their lead going into the fourth quarter, but only just - holding a 3.1.19 to 2.5.12 lead.

The final quarter saw Viska capitalise on a poor clearance from the normally rock solid Swans defence to stretch the lead to a goal and a bit, and potentially breathing space. A superb flick and soft hands from Niamh Leahy saw her convert on the run to drag the Swans back to within two points, but that was as near as they got.

For the Demons it is a Womens Premiership final against the West London Wildcats, whilst the Swans can reflect on a truly fantastic season that saw them as minor Premiers in their first season in the Premier Division, and although they fell just short they were one kick away from reaching the Grand final, and should be proud of their efforts.

The last game of the day saw the North London Lions take an out of sorts West London Wildcats for the right to play the Wandsworth Demons in the Mens Premiership Grand Final.

The Wildcats had had, to quote the late Queen, their own "annus horribilus" but one huge performance could turn that around. Unfortunately for them the Lions were likely to prove stiff opposition, and so it proved. The Lions came roaring out of the blocks (pun intended) and quickly had the Cats on the back foot. A launched ball into the 50 was collected by Thomas Fraser on the right and his excellent finish on the run gave the Lions the lead. Fraser then turned provider a ball into the 50 marked superbly by the flying Joshua Richmond and he increased the lead, and when Lachie Trevorton converted after the Cats had been marched back - the less said about the celebratory dance the better - the first quarter ended with the Lions holding a 3.4.22 to 0.0.0 lead.

The Wildcats got on the board with a couple of behinds but it was still the Lions dominating. Judah Edmunds was having an influence on the game and he found a mark by Richmond on the touchline, and his low ball into the 50 was taken by Fraser Allen who scored from close range. Mitchell McDonald-Roberts then picked out Richmond and his entry into the 50 was marked by Trevorton who added a set shot to increase the lead. A totally dominant half ended when Richmond and Matt Patterson found Jago James who converted on the run to send us into the big break with the Lions holding a 6.6.42 to 0.4.4 and one hand and several fingers in the final.

The Wildcats got on the board early in the third quarter when a Kyle Hayes set shot from right on the 50 crept over the line, but that merely poked the Lion and the responded with goals from Edmunds, after good work by Rhys Lee and then Richmond, who having spilt a mark reacted quickest to force the ball home. Tom Godber scored on the run for the Wildcats, but once again the Lions responded well. After the Cats had cleared straight out James fired into the 50, Richmond marked and scored. The Lions ended the half with Daniel Leggett getting on the score sheet and we went into the final period with the Lions, being the mane men (sorry...) and holding a 10.7.67 to 2.4.16 lead.

The Wildcats were now playing for pride, and Darcy Judd-Smith got the Wildcats on the board again, would the most miraculous comeback in AFL London history happen, no, no it wouldn't. McDonald-Roberts then set James away and the young Lions, the cub if you will, scored his second although he almost was the master of his own downfall. McDonald-Roberts then rose Simba like above the crowd to claim a fantastic mark and kick the set shot, before Edmunds concluded the scoring with a stunning worm burner from a ridiculous angle. The siren sounded, the Lions roared and a place in the final was secured with a 13.8.86 to 3.7.25 win.

The Mens Premiership final should be a cracking penultimate game of the season between two fantastic sides. For the Cats, it hasn't been their year, but these things are cyclical and they will no doubt come back stronger.

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