By Tara Murray
The Sunbury Kangaroos are one step closer to claiming the Essendon District Football League division 2 premiership, winning through to the grand final.
The red hot favourites to take out the premiership, the Kangaroos were made to work hard in their semi-final against Moonee Valley on Saturday,
In an up and down game, the Kangaroos got the job done 17.7 (109)-11.11 (77).
Kangaroos coach Anthony Leydin said the result wasn’t a foregone conclusion until time-on in the last quarter.
He said there was a three-to-four goal breeze favouring one end, which had an impact in the second half.
“There were a couple of points in it at half-time, as neither team used the breeze well in the first half.
“We broke it open in the third quarter, kicking nine goals and then we had to defend for dear life.
“Moonee Valley kept finding the answers and responded, we couldn’t shake them off.”
Leydin said kicking a couple of goals early in the last quarter was vital, as it took the sting out of the game a bit.
“It was a three-to-four goal breeze and that was what the margin was,” he said.
“It seemed a closer game than what it was.”
It wasn’t the Kangaroos best performance, with Leydin saying they were fumbly with the ball and dropped marks they should have taken.
It’s something that they can work on this week, with a week off and straight through to the grand final.
Jared Pretty kicked three goals, while Brenton Sutherland, Mitch Streiff, Mick Kilty and Lachie Baddeley kicked two goals each.
Leydin said Matt Quigley was best on ground, while some of their leaders Matt Welsh, Tie Cuffe, Sutherland and David House were the others among the best.
The Kangaroos win was soured by a couple of injuries.
Lachie Baddeley hurt his knee, while the severity of Josh Burgess’ leg injury is still unknown.
Leydin said they would look back through the tapes before working out who may be possible replacements.
It was a double celebration for the Kangaroos, with their reserves also winning through to the grand final.
The Sunbury Kangaroos came from 33 points down at three-quarter time to beat the Northern Saints, 14.9 (93)-13.7 (85).
The senior side, which is looking for its second premiership, will face either Moonee Valley or Burnside Heights in the grand final the following week at Windy Hill.
The reserves will play either Moonee Valley or Coburg Districts, also at Windy Hill.
