By Lance Jenkinson
It’s more than a game for grand final-bound Yarraville Seddon.
The driving force behind their run to the Western Region Football League division 2 big dance is not measured solely in wins and losses, ladder positions or statistics.
It runs deeper than that for the Eagles, particularly in Saturday’s 28-point win over Point Cook in the semi-final at Burbank Oval.
Eagles coach Vinnie Turcinovich said he could feel a strong emotional bond between his players and that is what got them over the line.
“We’ve had some tragedy happen in the past week to one of the players,” he said.
“I don’t want to elaborate on that, but it’s been pretty devastating.
“He’s playing for what’s happened in his life and there’s a few other boys going through some hardships.
“Just the relationships and the close bond these boys have got for each other, that’s why they deserve to win.”
Yarraville Seddon stalled out of the gates.
The Eagles – the competition’s highest scoring team, averaging 111 points per game –were kept scoreless in the first quarter.
It was an early reminder for a young team that finals is a whole new ball game.
“We’re a very young side,” Turcinovich said.
“You can tell them so many times that finals are different, that you’ve got to play at your best for the first 10 minutes of the first quarter and to Point Cook’s credit, that’s exactly what they did.
“The boys have learnt really quickly from today.
“I can guarantee the first quarter in the grand final will be different.”
Once Yarraville Seddon got into its groove, it was hard to stop.
The Eagles banged on five goals to one in the second quarter to take a slight lead into half-time.
The third quarter was an arm wrestle before the Eagles landed the knockout blow with a three-goal-to-one last quarter.
“They were closing our space really quickly, not allowing us to play our normal game in the first quarter,” Turcinovich said.
“We got numbers to the footy, we lifted our second and third efforts and the work rate lifted.
“We moved the ball a little quicker and gave the forwards a chance.”
A feature of Yarraville Seddon’s game was the unpredictable forward line.
Four players – Michael Tsaloukis, Josh Crofton, Lewis Parsons and Matthew Taylor – kicked two goals apiece.
There was a worry about the Eagles’ attack when Corey Salvador, the competition’s leading goalkicker at the time, went down with a serious knee injury.
“We just rotate the players through there,” Turcinovich said.
“We’re moving players all the time and it’s hard to defend.
“When you get a lot of inside 50s like we do, you have a chance to kick a good score.”
Leonardo Larizza had a massive impact for Yarraville Seddon with his drive off half back.
Young Eagles ruckmen Mason Angove and Jesse Varsamakis took the challenge up to veteran Point Cook ruckman Wayde Skipper.
Yarraville Seddon will face either Point Cook or Parkside in the grand final.
