Sport
29 August, 2022
Lexton roars into semi final with strong win
LEXTON 11.12 (78) def MALDON 8.8 (56) In a replica of the two teams’ earlier meeting this year, Lexton was able to repel Maldon’s best efforts in the first half before kicking away to record a 22-point victory to move to a semi final date with...
LEXTON 11.12 (78) def MALDON 8.8 (56)
In a replica of the two teams’ earlier meeting this year, Lexton was able to repel Maldon’s best efforts in the first half before kicking away to record a 22-point victory to move to a semi final date with Natte Bealiba on Sunday.
On paper, it looked to be a close game, and the first half certainly proved to be the case. Maldon were able to take a narrow five-point quarter time lead after kicking three goals, but Lexton were able to enjoy the better second quarter, kicking four goals to two to ensure they would take a seven-point half time lead.
Lexton came out to start the second half as the significantly better team, dominating territory and having six shots on goal. However, they were only able to convert twice from those shots, while Maldon were able to make the most of their forays inside 50 for a goal which helped keep them in the game.
The margin sat at 15 points going into the final change, but it was Lexton that got the all-important jump in the final quarter, kicking the first two goals to extend their lead to a game-high 27 points.
Maldon weren’t quite finished yet, kicking the next two goals to reduce the margin back to 15 points, but it proved to be the Tigers day, putting away the Bombers once and for all with the final goal of the game to finish 22-point winners.
Samual Dunn was Lexton’s best, while Lachlan Rokebrand had a great battle with Maldon star Hayden Kelly. Bryce Karslake, Lachlan Pryor, James Templeton and Joshua Sargent were also named in Dylan Lewis’ best players for the Tigers.
For Maldon, Kyle Winstanley, Billy Miller, Kelly, David Wilson, Max Johns and Julian Lockwood played well against the Tigers’ second-half surge.
Lewis was thrilled with his charges’ efforts, noting that he knew Maldon would throw everything at them in the first half to try and establish an early break.
“Something we have identified over the last few weeks is that they have strong starts. We knew if we could stick with them, we had confidence to get over the top of them with our fitness and our endeavour at the footy. It’s something we pride ourselves on, to finish games strong. It’s a bit touch and go in a final if you give the opposition too much of a start, but if we stay in touch with anyone, we’ll back ourselves to finish strong too,” he said.
Lewis paid the ultimate tribute to Rokebrand for his performance on Kelly, saying that moving him to play a tagging role on the Bombers’ talisman was a catalyst for their home and away victory earlier in the season. As a result, it was something that Lewis didn’t hesitate to have as a tactic on Sunday afternoon.
“Rokey did an awesome job on Hayden Kelly. Last time we played Maldon, he dominated the first half, and we sent Rokey on to him and stopped him. We tagged him from the get-go today to make sure he didn’t hurt us,” he said.
“We think our midfield mix with Lochlan Pett, Thomas Cullinan, Josh Sargeant, Mitch Crosier and Tyler Richards is up there with the best of them, and can push it with the best teams in the competition.”
The Tigers now move to a meeting with Natte Bealiba, a team Lewis says they “love” to play in a final.
“We think we match up really well against Natte. The scoreboard didn’t do us justice last time, we felt — it was wet and they were close to full strength, whereas we weren’t, but the boys did well,” he said.
“If we play our system, we think we can match it. They have ended a few of our finals series in the past, but we love playing Natte in a final – the rivalry goes back to the Lexton Plains days. They’re a good bunch of blokes so we reckon we can have a good crack, even if it’s a good challenge.”
