RICK DREWER
SOUTH Gawler ran out 27-point winners over Tanunda in the Barossa, Light & Gawler under 17 preliminary final on Saturday afternoon.
Played at a very wet and boggy Williamstown Oval, despite the conditions, this was an interesting and even contest for the first three quarters.
Defying the wet ground, Bayley Pink’s early tumbling, rolling goal at the three-minute mark was a great start for the Pies.
South replied with the next two goals, both from free kicks to Cody Gilchrist and Tom Clements, to snatch back the lead before it was taken back, again, by Tanunda, with, without-a doubt, the
most memorable moment of the match, a 50-metre ‘torp’ goal from Luca Whitelum, after the first term siren.
The Pies led by three points at quarter-time, but 30 seconds into the second term, Sam Riggs’ clever snap goal regained the lead for the Lions which they were never to relinquish for the remainder of the match.
South, superior in the rucking contests and given the huge number of ball-ups, with Jake Willemsen leading the way, together with big efforts from Jaden Gurney and Connor Willsmore, saw it take a seven-point lead into the long break.
Jackson Docherty, Shay Linke and Liam Ellis kept Tanunda competitive throughout the first half.
Lions coach Bailey Zobel reassured his side at half-time.
“We are faster, harder, back Cody (Willsmore), set the platform, pressure and character and it’s not done yet,” he said.
The third term was a tight, tough and even battle with each side scoring a goal a-piece.
Mitch Manning snapped truly half-way through the term to get the Pies back to within two points, but a great pick-up and goal on the run from Gurney, just on the siren, claimed an eight-point lead at the final change.
At the break, Zobel instructed his Lions to “take a deep-breathe, settle down, shut-down the pairing off, come hard home, lift to another level and work even harder.”
Not even Zobel could have expected what was unveiled in the last 20 minutes.
Fired up by five inspirational minutes from Michael DeJonge with two goals, the second coming as a result of a diving slips catch that would have done Steve Smith proud, the Lions gained confidence and better movement that they had threatened earlier.
Ellis clawed one back for the Pies but it was immediately answered by a spectacular out-of-the-back snapped goal from Jordan Russell, moments later.
When Willemsen again from a free-kick converted from 30 metres, to extend the lead to over four goals for South, it was home and grand final bound.
From quarter-time, South steadily built momentum out-playing and outscoring the Pies 7.2 to 2.2, to register a convincing victory.
This week’s grand final against Nuri should be a ripper with only one point separating them in the second semi-final.