Tara Murray
The Sunbury Kangaroos produced a mature performance beyond their years to seal an Essendon District Football League division 2 preliminary final spot.
After just sneaking into finals, the Kangaroos showed that they belonged as they accounted for the Northern Saints on Sunday.
A win didn’t seem likely for the Kangaroos early as they trailed by 29 points at quarter time having failed to score a goal.
The margin was 15 points at the main break, before the Saints blew it back out early in the third quarter.
The Kangaroos found another level to lead by five points at three quarter time and then took the margin out to 20 points.
The Saints kicked a couple of goals late, but the Kangaroos did enough to win, 13.11 (89)-10.15 (75).
Kangaroos coach Shanon Carroll was thrilled with not only the win but what they have been able to achieve so far this season.
“Things have fallen our way a little bit after the start we had to the year [sitting 0-5],” he said.
“It’s pleasing and I think surprising to the other sides as well.
“When I took the job I was told that I might take some pain early with a young list. We were 0-5 and that was OK as we were playing the kids and getting experience into them.
“We think we can cause some damage, if not next week but beyond as we have a good nucleus together.”
Carroll said it was a weird start for the side which was reflected on the scoreboard.
He said with 13 players playing their first senior final there was bound to be some nerves.
“It was very quiet across the whole game and we were waiting to see what was going to happen, rather than make it happen,” he said.
“From the start of the game until quarter time the side was completely different, we switched a lot of players around to get the drive and run and it seemed to work.”
When the margin blew out again, Carroll said they needed to just stick with what they were doing and not panic.
“I had to keep reassuring the guys to stick to what we have done. It was a mature performance beyond their years.”
Defender turned forward Matthew Leonard kicked six goals for a second straight week. Carroll said Leonard had been sick all week and nearly didn’t play.
Captain Mitch Streiff kicked three goals in a best on ground performance. Carroll also highlighted the performances of Dean Halliwell, Stephen Treweek and Mitchell Kook.
He had special praise for Shawn Bowden.
“It’s the best game I’ve seen him play,” he said. “For such a young kid that has shown a lot of positives, he stood up under such a high pressure game.”
Carroll said the belief is starting to grow within the group that they belong at this point of the season.
The Kangaroos face Taylors Lakes, which lost the other semi final to Oak Park on Saturday.
