A chance to make red, white, and blue history awaits

Inspirational Phillip Island skipper Brendan Kimber was a man on a mission against the Seagulls in the second semi-final. 197105 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By sports editor Russell Bennett

The snarling Bulldogs have won through to this year’s WGFNC senior decider and the chance to claim back-to-back premierships after a comfortable win over Tooradin-Dalmore in the second semi-final earlier today at Bass.

The last time the two sides faced off was only a few weeks ago in Round 17 at the Gulls’ nest, with the Island claiming the points – if only just.

So, all eyes were on the semi-final to see if the Gulls could take their imposing form from their qualifying final win over the Cobras, and covert it to a victory over the ladder-leaders.

Cars lined Hade Avenue in the build up to the eagerly-anticipated clash, with a strong crowd in to witness it all unfold, but it was the Island that proved too strong, too composed, and too well-structured right when it mattered most – winning by 24 points, 7.16 (58) to 5.4 (34).

Those who couldn’t make it to Bass to watch the game may question just how comfortable a four-goal win could look, but – despite the dry conditions – a typically strong breeze to the flank nearest the away rooms wreaked havoc.

Those who’d played at Bass often before would have become accustomed to the conditions, and it looked like the Island settled first – despite the Gulls winning the toss and kicking with the breeze in the first.

Only three goals were kicked in the opening stanza, with the Island trailing by just four points at quarter-time – 2.2 (14) to 1.4 (10).

That was in no small part to the pure ruck dominance of Cam Pedersen, the likes of Jason Tomada and Mark Griffin behind the ball, and the champion on-ball trio of skipper Brendan Kimber, Zak Vernon, and Jaymie Youle.

While Nick Lang (two goals) and Andrew Dean goaled in the first term for the Gulls, an outstanding shot on goal from young Billy Taylor hard up against the boundary into the wind showed that the Island wasn’t simply going to shut the game down in the first and third terms – instead counter-punching whenever the opportunity arose.

To limit the damage the way they did was a sight to see, while too often the Gulls found themselves gravitating towards the most windswept part of the ground.

Instead, when it was their turn to stream forward in the second and final terms, the Island better utilised the Hade Avenue side of the ground.

Only two goals were kicked into the breeze all day – both by the Island.

Despite some at-times wayward shots on goal in the tricky conditions caused by the breeze, Beau Vernon’s side had a number of avenues to goal – with seven individual goal-kickers.

The Island seemed in a relatively comfortable position after quarter-time, when Vernon implored his troops to not let the Gulls impact the scoreboard in the second. They ultimately scored one behind for the term.

It seemed hard work all day for the Tooradin-Dalmore defenders, but they stood strong impressively given the circumstances.

Luke McKenna and Andrew Proctor simply refused to give in, while the likes of Jordan Kelly and Waide Symes were also impactful for Lachie Gillespie’s side. In hardly ideal conditions for forwards, Dean’s work rate couldn’t be questioned, while Kris Sabbatucci (two goals) at one stage loomed as a real momentum-changer.

He slotted a long bomb after the three quarter-time siren with seemingly half the Phillip Island side standing near the mark, and as the ball sailed through his side was just one straight kick in arrears.

But the Bulldogs still had the final term with the breeze up their sleeves and a goal to Leigh Warne – at the back of the pack, goal-side with an uncontested snap from close-range – about five minutes in went a long way to icing the game in the chilly breeze.

In the eyes of some, Pedersen’s astonishing season from an individual standpoint may somehow overshadow the impact he has on his team mates.

But in this semi-final his sheer dominance ensured the likes of Kimber, Vernon, Youle, and Hayden Bruce – the Island’s match-winners through the engine room – could be just that.

Importantly for the Island, key forward Jack Taylor made it through his first game since way back in Round 9 after persistent hamstring troubles, while for the Gulls a broken hand suffered by Brad Butler in their win over Cora Lynn may not keep him out for too much longer as he could well return before the finals series is complete. His absence against the Bulldogs was telling.

In no way should the Seagulls be too discouraged by their semi-final result. Gillespie’s side has a lot of room for improvement for next week’s preliminary final against either Kooweerup or Cora Lynn at Denhams Road.

Yet if they’re to not only advance to the grand final against the Bulldogs at Garfield, but topple them, they’ll need to find another couple of levels to reach.

For the Bulldogs – the opportunity to record a brilliant unbeaten 2019 campaign awaits.

Click below to watch the boys from the Island sing the song…