Sport
10 September, 2024
Natte Bealiba ends Harcourt’s premiership reign with outstanding performance
NATTE BEALIBA 16.14 (110) def HARCOURT 8.5 (53)
There will be a new football premier in season 2024, with Natte Bealiba dethroning the Lion kings of Harcourt with a devastating display of ball use.
The Swans’ 16.14 (110) to 8.5 (53) victory should rightfully go down as one of the finest displays the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League has seen in some time, with the Swans overwhelming in both their disposal and their two-way running.
It was a game the Swans virtually led throughout the entire afternoon, save for the first 30 seconds, which is where Will Holt was able to mark and convert to give the red and white army the dream start.
Another goal from Austin McKenzie, who drifted forward, had them rocking.
Harcourt were able to hit back in what was a crazy opening four minutes of the game, with Braydon Vaz launching from the top of the centre square to put the Lions on the board.
It appeared we were in for something special.
However, it was the Swans who were determined to make the most of all their opportunities, and everything they were doing worked to brilliant effect.
First, Jye Mortlock restored the Swans’ two-goal cushion with a brilliant snap from the pocket, before the ever-present Will Cameron added to their lead with a big launch from just on 50.
McKenzie added his second of the term, and it was the Swans by 26 points at the first change.
When Holt and Jai Howell goaled in the first seven minutes of the second term, it looked to be a red-and-whitewash as the margin blew out to 40 points.
But Harcourt responded by playing some good footy of their own, and had their best patch of the day.
Alex Code went forward and kicked a much-needed goal, ending the Swans’ five-goal streak, before Baxter Gurd crumbed efficiently and crafted a good snap to give the Lions some hope.
When Luke Burns goaled, the margin was reduced to 24 points at the 19-minute mark.
But the Swans were able to wrestle back the momentum, and it was playing-coach Trent Mortlock who broke through to allow his team to regain control.
Holt capitalised straight from the bounce to mark and convert his third, and suddenly, it was a 36-point lead at half time.
As the third quarter returned, it was Cameron who continued to re-acquaint himself with the footy that he had owned throughout the first half, setting up Jye for his second goal.
Holt’s fourth virtually signified the end for Harcourt, with the Swans 48 points up at the eight-minute mark.
Gurd would soon have his second, but it was Harcourt’s sole goal for the quarter, as Natte finished full of running, with Jye’s third followed by a goal from Jayden Templeton to increase the lead beyond 50 points at the final change.
Trent delivered an incredible highlight for the Swan faithful to remember with a launch from outside 50 just inside the boundary line for the first goal of the final term.
Ben Leech, Cameron Anderson and Vaz added to the Lions’ goal tally, but they were consolation efforts.
Jye added his fourth with another amazing snap in congestion, and Howell finished the day off with the final goal.
The Sherrin seemed to have Cameron’s DNA all over it as his field kicking was incredibly influential, alongside Daniel Vadala, who set up multiple attacks off half back, as well as Howell, while McKenzie’s two goals early in the piece set the tone in the ruck battle with Jordan Gartside. Bailey Cossar and Jye completed the mix for Natte’s best players.
For Harcourt, Mark Noonan, Gartside, Code, Anderson, Thomas Walters and Vaz were all named in their best.
For Trent, it was a performance he had been eagerly awaiting for all season long.
“We pride ourselves on good ball use, making good decisions and we had moments of brilliance. Overall, we did a good job and I’m proud of the boys,” he said.
“Our work rate and our run and carry are something I harp on, especially our defensive run, and I think our work defensively gives us more attacking options. If you’re willing to work back, you’ll always work when you get the ball.
“We hit our 45s, we ran to create with our run and carry and our forwards did a really good job of not letting Harcourt win the one on ones. I felt like we had won plenty of ground balls in the forward half and we got plenty of scores out of that.”
Trent knew it was a big task to stop Harcourt, and said the work of Jye and McKenzie early was crucial to their task.
“Jye’s my captain and brother. It’s special to coach your brother and be my captain as well, but he was fantastic,” he said.
“He could play anywhere on the ground, but he was great at centre half forward, went into the middle in the second half, had fantastic hands, made good decisions with the ball, he handballs to create too.
“Austin kicked two in the first term and he was really good. We wanted to make that effort work, especially running back defensively, but then pushing forward with our mix and Aussie, being our ruckman, made it work. He hit the scoreboard — he’s not a usual goalkicker.”
Trent said there are plenty of decisions to make — a clean bill of health from the win, thankfully, making his task a little bit easier.
“We’ll look to bring the exact same stuff that we brought. That effort, intent and workrate, I couldn’t ask for any more of the boys,” he said.
“We had a couple of boys unavailable this week, so we do have a few tough decisions to make, but that is coaching and that’s finals, so we will look to go out there at 100 percent next week and take what we can.
“We have played in a prelim every year I’ve played senior football, so we have been up and about for a long time, but you can still make them and be quite a bit off. But the boys we have picked up this year have been really good — for many, their first finals experience, and they haven’t taken a backwards step.”