Sport
11 September, 2023
Redbacks make it eight grand final appearances on the trot with big win over Natte
Carisbrook and the grand final just seem to be a match made in heaven. An eighth-successive decider for the Redbacks came after a 29-point win over Natte Bealiba. However, the nature of the victory cannot be fooled, with a dominant first three...
Carisbrook and the grand final just seem to be a match made in heaven. An eighth-successive decider for the Redbacks came after a 29-point win over Natte Bealiba.
However, the nature of the victory cannot be fooled, with a dominant first three quarters setting up the Redbacks, leading by as much as 69 points before completely taking their foot off the gas.
Both teams had their chances in the opening term, but it was the Redbacks who made the most of their opportunities, kicking four goals to four behinds.
Andrew Toan was in the thick of it all early, and was one of the key contributors early on, while Steve Patterson and Anthony Zelencich were also among those to get onto the scoreboard.
With a 23-point lead at quarter time, the Redbacks weren’t prepared to rest on their laurels, and after battling with the Swans for 10 minutes, consecutive goals to Ash Munari and Nick Wright broke the game open, before a long-range effort from Zak Rinaldi, followed by a goal from Harry Butler, meant it was a 47-point lead at half time, and, essentially, game over.
It was a second consecutive finals meeting where the Swans had been held goalless in the first half by the Redbacks.
The third quarter started off with a nice moment for 350th gamer Stephen Ross, who put the Swans on the board.
The next 20 minutes belonged to the Redbacks, however, who snuffed out any hope the Swans might have had of coming back. Patterson and Zelencich kicked quick consecutive goals, while Butler and Patrick Van der Pol likewise scored to give them a 68-point gap.
With the game well in their safekeeping, the Redbacks took their foot off the gas, and this allowed the Swans to kick the final two goals of the third term through Will Holt, to reduce the margin to 58 points at the final change.
It was all the Swans in the last quarter as the Redbacks knew they were home, kicking four goals in the last term to reduce the margin to 29 points at the end.
The back six were heroes throughout the day for Carisbrook, as their dominance allowed their midfield and forward line to play with plenty of confidence. Adam Hurse played a commanding game, while Malcom Niblett, Toan, Wright, Jackson Bowen and Butler were also named in the best.
For the Swans, Austin McKenzie played well as he tried to will the Swans, as did Aaron Hayes, Jordan Fraser, Tom Broadbent, Jye Mortlock and Brayden Mills.
But the day belonged to Carisbrook, and victorious coach Luke Treacy knew the importance of winning a preliminary final.
“I’m ecstatic. People say they are the hardest one to win, it’s sudden death, and some teams coming off the week off get rolled. But we prepared really well, and this group has worked hard for the opportunity and played well to get in front,” he said.
Treacy offered an insight into how the club keeps themselves intact defensively.
“We worked really hard on two-way transition and defensive pressure all the way around the group. Our back six were magnificent. Natte are a good team with dangerous forwards, and we were able to limit the entries and cut them off,” he said.
“I think we have worked really hard throughout the year. We’ve conceded around 35 points per game throughout the year, and we pride ourselves on that. It’s a back six that locks down and they intercept if there is good pressure applied further up the ground.
“But we speak a lot about our positioning and different things. But if we don’t have pressure around our forward half, they will be opened up at the same time.
“Every footballer spends much of the day without the ball, so we work on how they can have an impact when it’s their time, just by working hard, pressuring, harassing and doing the little things without the ball. If those players can have a good impact without the ball, it benefits the team.”
Treacy, and his charges, appear to be ready for the challenge of Harcourt, who denied them a return to the summit in 2022.
“We’re excited about the opportunity again, and driven by the disappointment of last year. Harcourt absolutely won on merit last year, this time, they are the warm favourites we feel, and they are on a long winning streak,” he said.
“They were clinical against Trentham, and they’re the team to beat. We have to come in with the mentality of being able to knock them off their game.
“It will be a warm day, so it will test the intensity of everyone on the ground with the repeat efforts. Harcourt got us in round five and last year, so we have to make changes. We will need to match them on the inside in the midfield contest, spread and find avenues to goal, while finding ways to stop their forward six.”
Treacy anticipates a full squad to pick from, with the reserves also making it to the grand final.
“Good players steel themselves for the whole season, on just getting fit and strong to withstand the knocks. We have a shorter break, but we believe we will get through with a clean bill of health,” he said.
“If you have weak links, they get found out. We feel we have a good squad, especially with our reserves also being in the grand final. We have worked hard together to build the same game plan, one that is entertaining, but also one that holds up under the hard stuff.”