Tara Murray
The Sunbury Kangaroos are daring to dream after winning through to the Essendon District Football League division 2 grand final.
After losing their first five games, the Kangaroos left it down to the final round to qualify for finals sneaking into fourth having thought they had just fallen short.
The Kangaroos then beat the Northern Saints in the first week of finals before beating Taylors Lakes on Saturday in a thriller to earn a grand final spot.
Kangaroos coach Shanon Carroll said they would enjoy the momentum.
“It is pretty amazing,” he said. “It’s one of those things that unpredictably has become huge.
“We have come up against some quality opposition which has amazing structures…They set up really well today [Saturday] Taylors Lakes.
“They moved the ball well today, between their lines and things like that, but unpredictability and young guys who want to take the game on, it can cause havoc and it has again today, we’re really happy.”
For a second week in a row, the Kangaroos have been the slower starting of the two teams. By half time it was game on as they led by two points.
Scores were level at three quarter time, despite the Lions having had five more scoring shots.
Both teams would have their chances and it would come down to the dying minutes. The Lions had the chance to level the scores late, but missed to reduce the margin to five points.
The Kangaroos did enough, winning 12.10 (82)-10.17 (77).
Carroll said they knew there would be a bit of physicality brought at them early being such a young side.
“What we tried to do this week was to try and do a little bit differently, absorb that pressure and catch them on the outside a little bit,” he said.
“When they came in at quarter time you could see the guys were little bit spent and blowing they were still keen as all of a sudden we’ve kicked a few goals in the first quarter, starting to grow on us and starting to get a bit more comfortable,
“They started to feel like we belong in these contests and it’s only growing, snowball effect and we’re getting better and better.”
Carroll said he thought that the Lions had gone away from things in the second quarter which had helped them get back into the game.
After the break it was a good even contest and ended up being the battle of attrition with both sides having just one player on the bench.
Mitch Streiff and Jack Vivian kicked two goals each for the Kangaroos.
It was ruck Dean Halliwell, who was the standout according to Carroll in the absence of Brenton Sutherland.
“We put it on him Thursday night that you’re in for a big game and you’re probably going to have to ruck for most of the game,” he said.
“He took the bull by the horns and said let me have it, let me do this.”
Carroll said the likes of John Corso, Streiff, Stephen and Michael Treweek and Rhys Magin who were the other standouts. He also had praise for Daniel Stubbs and Shawn Bowden.
“We had a lot of young players stand up today, it’s a great mix and it’s more young than old but I think the young are starting to drive the older guys playing some really good footy.”
The Kangaroos now face Oak Park in the grand final on Saturday at Coburg City Oval.
Having already exceeded expectations, the Kangaroos will throw everything at Oak Park.
“We’re there and we’re unpredictable,” Carroll said. “We can cause a lot of damage and it might not go our way this week, but it might go our way. That is the beauty of it, the pressure is not on us, no one expected us to be here
“We are in it to win, but at the same time be careful if you take us lightly we like chasing a lead down.”
