General News
7 September, 2023
Storm snatch final minutes win
The trip to Kaniva paid off for the crowd of Jeparit Rainbow supporters, with a perfect spring day topped off by a thrilling preliminary finals game that ebbed and flowed as Jeparit Rainbow and Noradjuha Quantong fought to the end for a Grand Final...
The trip to Kaniva paid off for the crowd of Jeparit Rainbow supporters, with a perfect spring day topped off by a thrilling preliminary finals game that ebbed and flowed as Jeparit Rainbow and Noradjuha Quantong fought to the end for a Grand Final berth.
Jeparit Rainbow went into the game with three changes from last week's team - Nathan Cocks injured his knee and Matt Thomas his shoulder, while Brad Stokes missed due to the inclusion of Braxton Ah Mat, as the team played with close to their maximum player-points allowance.
Justin Cozens and Jordan Leach were the other two inclusions this week.
In a season with constant changes each week, this was the first time all 21 teammates had played together previously, and it paid off.
Once again, Jeparit Rainbow started slowly as Noradjuha Quantong jumped out to a five goal to one lead at quarter time, winning around the contests with Jason Kerr dominating around the ground, while Brock Orval and Dylan Busby were dangerous up forward.
In the second quarter, Jeparit Rainbow lifted their game in a tough contest.
Early goals to Tom Clarke and Will Hutchinson brought them back into the game, then they ground out further goals to briefly gain the lead before a late goal to Busby gave NQ a four-point lead at half time.
The third quarter followed a similar pattern - an early goal to NQ increased their lead before JR started to win more of the ball around the ground.
Three goals in a row saw them briefly hit the lead, before NQ kicked the final three goals of the quarter to lead by 13 points.
During the three quarter time break, the JR coaches emphasised the need to not hold back and to take the game on in the do-or-die last quarter. The need to try and get deeper forward entries was also mentioned.
We had come down to one quarter of football left to define JR's season: not winning this game would mean a disappointing end to the year for a group that was clearly the second best team for the year.
This quarter saw a great individual effort from Peter Weir as he took advantage of his team’s midfield getting on top.
Two early goals from him saw the margin reduced to two points, then, in another twist in the game, NQ kicked two goals in the next five minutes as they took advantage of limited forward entries.
Once again, JR dug deep, found that last reserve, and the last 10 minutes of the game saw them kick four goals - including a brilliant snap goal to Weir as he brought up his seventh and eight goals.
The move of Braxton Ah Mat into the ruck saw him play some inspired football as he gave his midfield first use of the ball.
Hitting the front with a couple minutes to go, a late goal to Will Hutchinson saw JR heading into the Grand Final with an 11- point win.
The change rooms were packed with supporters as the players belted out their song.
An emotional Scott Driscoll set out the post match theme “One More Game”, while Matt Everett stressed that the team would play even better next week.
Weir had played one of the best individual finals games for the club - he marked on the lead, marked in the contest and snapped a goal like a small forward, kicking half his team’s score with a number of behinds added to his goals.
To do this, he needed ball supply from his midfielders, and as the match progressed, Nick Yarran, Trent Burgoyne and Antonio James put their stamp on the game with their skills.
Yarran produced an amazing run in the last quarter, beating several opponents as he got the ball out of the centre.
Matt Synoradski once again ran himself into the ground on his wing; his both ways running was so important to his team’s win, while Tom Clarke did some good work around the ground.
Tom Long played on a variety of opponents in the backline as he won one-on-one contests and ran the ball out.
Tom Schumann was another defender who got better as the game progressed.
In the desperate last minutes, Simon Clugston won a two-on-one contest which resulted in Long clearing the ball out of danger.
Will Hutchinson kicked three goals and won some vital centre clearances in the final quarter, and while Ash Clugston worked hard up forward, two goals was probably not enough reward for his efforts.
Jakob Cocks and Justin Cozens were calm under pressure as they won important contests.
Xavier Oakley put his body on the line in every contest for a memorable game on his 21st birthday.
Next Saturday the team will play in their first Grand Final since the club's only Senior’s premiership in 1997.
Twenty-six years has been a long wait for another Grand Final appearance, and the players can be assured of an amazing response from their loyal supporters.
Storm Coach Scott Driscoll said the game was always going to be a four quarter game.
“It was bloody nerve wracking. In all honesty we knew the game was going to play for a full four quarters and that is exactly what happened,” Driscoll said.
“We had the belief that we knew we had to play four quarters and that our best could do it. We didn’t go into our shells when they extended the lead. We kept trying to win the game by attacking and forcing them onto the back foot.”
“We wrestled the momentum a couple of times during the game. In the last quarter the game ebbed and flowed and towards the end of the game we started to take control of the game.”
Thomas Long was solid down back for the Storm whilst Matthew Synoradzki provided a lot of drive on the wing. Nicholas Yarran and Trent Burgoyne were influential through the midfield but it was Peter Weir up forward who stood out in a best on ground performance.
Driscoll said the team hasn’t relied on any one player during the year but that Weir was the difference in the end.
“All throughout the year we haven’t been relying on any one player. We have spread the load each week and have six to ten hit the scoreboard. We don’t care who kicks them. We have had a lot more midfielders, wingers and small forwards to kick goals.”
“For Peter to get on the scoreboard 10 or 11 times and take big marks in the game, it was the difference in the end,” Driscoll concluded.