Panthers smash hoodoo

Lavington has smashed its preliminary final hoodoo to book a spot in its first grand final since its 2008 loss to Wangaratta Magpies.

The Panthers will face the Tigers in next week’s grand final after overpowering Yarrawonga by 46 points in Sunday’s preliminary final at the John Flower Oval.

Lavington had lost the past two preliminary finals by a point, but there was no way the Panthers were going to let this one slip after controlling the match from start to finish.

“I thought we did what our group expected,” Panthers coach James Saker said.

“We knew it was going to be tough.

“We started well and did the basic things well.

“We definitely missed some chances that probably kept Yarra half in the game.

“But our intent and pressure and all the basic things that we were poor at last week we got right this week.”

Lavington’s intent was there for all to see from the start. 

The Panthers were ferocious in their attack on the ball carrier, with their pressure too much for the Pigeons to handle. 

Luke Garland got the ball rolling with the first of the game and before long the Panthers had five straight, including two to Justin Koschitzke. 

Young gun Jess Koopman finally put the Pigeons on the board at the 21-minute mark of the first quarter to limit the damage to 28 points at quarter time.

But Lavington’s midfield dominance continued in the second.   

Matt Pendergast got the first of the quarter as Lavington nailed the first three to blow the margin out to 51 points. 

Yarrawonga’s chances weren’t helped when Kayne Pettifer was reported for striking Saker and sent off, 19 minutes into the second term.

But instead of restricting Yarrawonga, it had the opposite effect.

Brendan Fevola kicked his first just minutes after Pettifer was sent off, with Koopman and Riley Welsh following suit to narrow the deficit to 32 at halftime.

Pendergast was again lively in the third with two for the quarter as Lavington extended its lead.

It was going to take a miracle for the Pigeons to win from 44 points down at three quarter-time, but Fevola gave them hope.

With Tim Cooper, Xavier Leslie, Koopman and Wade Lees getting involved, it brought Fevola more into the game.

Fevola booted the first three of the final quarter to narrow the margin to a gettable 27 points.

Yarrawonga had a pulse.

But the comeback fell dead in its tracks when Mitch Palmer bobbed up with two crucial final-quarter goals to steady the Lavington nerves.

Saker paid tribute to Palmer after the game.

“I’m wrapped for Mitch,” he said.

“He stepped up to the plate.

“There’s always crunch moments in games and there were a couple in the last quarter that were key and he nailed them.

“It’s great for him and great for our club.” 

Luke Garland, Brant Dickson and Pendergast were sensational for the Panthers, while Fevola, Cooper and Leslie shone for the Pigeons.

Saker said his side’s pressure was telling in the end.

“We had guys take the game on and that comes off the back of turning the ball over in good spots,” he said.

“Against Albury (in the second semi-final) when we got possession it was full-back, today it was up high.”

While Fevola kicked six on Saker, the Lavington coach said he was full of respect for the departing Pigeon, who’s off to Deer Park next season.

“It’s been a privilege, really, to play against a player of that calibre,” Saker said.

“If there’s good movement to him he’s very hard to stop.

“He obviously got the chocolates today, but we got the win.”

Lavington now enters the grand final full of confidence.