Albanvale is into the Western Region Football League division 3 grand final.
The Cobras faced West Footscray at Hansen Reserve on Saturday in a preliminary final in a match of two tales, with the first half being a tight contest before the dam walls burst open in the second.
The game started tight with just two goals separating the sides at quarter time. When half time rolled around it was just nine points the difference.
However, an eight goal third term from the Cobras stretched the lead out to 52 points at three quarter time.
The goal kicking continued into the last quarter, with the Cobras adding another five majors to give them a 65 point victory.
The Cobras won 20.11 (131)-9.12 (66).
Reece Field booted five majors and was amongst the Cobras best, Liam Montrose slotted four, Daniel Bartolo kicked three. Joel Rattya kicked two in a best on ground performance.
The Cobras will now face the Suns in the grand final after losing to them by 80 points in the penultimate round of the season and 30 points just two weeks ago in a qualifying final.
Having lost at the same time last season, it was a relieved Cobras coach Nick Smith.
“We would have been very flat if we didn’t make the grand final,” he said.
“I feel like we’ve changed a lot of things and done things differently, it meant a lot to do better than we did last year.
“Now we’re there, anything can happen.”
The eight goal third term was some of the Cobras best footy for the year Smith said, however, it didn’t come without its challenges.
“There was a lot going on, we lost a couple of players in the second quarter,” he said.
“Jackson Smith got stretchered off with a lower leg injury and our captain (Jacob Maschewski) did his shoulder, they ended up going in the same ambulance.
“That was pretty massive, being down two of our best players and down our captain and vice captain.
“And then the boys came out and did that in the third quarter, it was remarkable. One of the most amazing things I’ve been a part of considering what we were up against at half time.”
Neither Smith or Maschewski will be available for the grand final.
Now the only focus is on the Suns, it will be the third time the sides have met in the last five rounds of footy.
“Every time we go in with something different, my theory is you don’t lose, you learn,” Smith said.
“We’re confident that some of the tweaks and adjustments we’ve made will get us close to the Suns.
“I’d just be happy to be in that last quarter with the game on and a chance to win a flag.”
Harper Sercombe
