HILLSIDE is through to the Essendon District Football League
division 2 grand final after a thumping 106-point win over Moonee Valley
on Saturday.
The Sharks’ dominance this season meant they finished five games
clear atop the ladder, losing only once, by four points to Moonee Valley
in round six.
PICTURE GALLERY: Hillside v Moonee Valley
DIVISION 1: Taylors Lakes out of race
PREMIER: Keilor ends on a high
PREMIER: Greenvale finish on top
And now they have earnt a week’s rest, with Moonee Valley and East Keilor to meet in a preliminary final on Saturday.
The 22.12 (144) to 5.8 (38) win was spurred on by an eight-goal second term.
Hillside held just a two-point quarter-time lead after missing
several opportunities in the first quarter, but blew the game open in
the next half an hour.
Moonee Valley managed just one goal for the term and was held to three after quarter-time.
Four goals in the third quarter and another eight in the last
ensured a mammoth victory for the Sharks, the unbackable flag
favourites.
Forward Fabio Dilizia, kept to a goal the last time the teams met,
slotted eight, while Alex Farrar was best on ground with four.
Scarily, Hillside coach Steve Kolyniuk believes his team did not play its best football.
“I didn’t think we played really that well,” he said.
“We were good in patches, particularly in the second quarter and they had key players missing for most of the game.
“I thought we played well at the start but never really put the score on the board.
“We gave Moonee a sniff before coming out really hard in the second.
“Obviously our goal at the start of the year was to get to a grand final so we’ll see in two weeks if we can win a premiership.”
Kolynuik also pointed to the club’s depth, with the under 18s
winning a semi final by 99 and the reserves also enjoying a 136-point
win.
Meanwhile Keilor Park was knocked out of the flag race, beaten by 43 points by East Keilor.
The Devils trailed throughout the afternoon, losing all but the third quarter.
Josh Plozza, Jake Thomas and Ben Ryan all kicked two goals and Luke Vivian was best in a losing cause.
