Tara Murray
It was a more Keilor-like performance as the Blues won through to the Essendon District Football League premier division grand final on Sunday.
After their most disappointing performance in the past couple of years, the Blues had work to do if they were to face Pascoe Vale in the grand final.
It started with beating Strathmore in the preliminary final on Sunday.
After an even first half on the scoreboard, the Blues were able to kick away in the second half to come away with a 14.12 (96)-8.9 (57) win to secure that grand final spot.
Blues coach Mick McGuane was a lot happier than he had been a week ago.
“It was an arm wrestle early,” he said. “Little bit of structure in front of the ball and behind the ball bodes well for your contingencies.
“Inclusions of [Jovan] Petric and [Cody] Brand, and [Nathan] Colenso and [Joseph] Ciranna, all make a significant difference as they all have significant roles to play when we’re playing at our best footy.
“For them to come back in the team and play in the manner they did was extremely pleasing.”
After hinting last week that seven players could come into the side, the Blues did bring in five players.
The fifth was Mason Thomas, a three-time premiership player.
They did lose Josh Honey and Oskar Smartt from last week’s team, who McGuane said are now likely out for the season.
McGuane said the inclusions all helped the team structure despite it being a gamble with some of those players not playing for a number of weeks.
The game turned in the third quarter which McGuane said they played quite dynamic.
“We won the ball in traffic and turned the ball in good spots and went back at them quickly,” he said.
“Ten shots at goal. I think we held up defensively a lot better than what we did last week.
“I thought we defended the ground much better.”
Colenso and Petric kicked three goals each for the Blues.
McGuane said both were helped separate the game with their conversion. He said James Bailey continues to get better, Nick O’Kearney was good in the middle while the coaching staff were happy with Thomas McGuane’s performance as well.
“There were some positives out of a good team performance,” McGuane said. “We needed a response and we got it.”
The win sets up the grand final with Pascoe Vale on Saturday at Windy Hill.
The Panthers won the semi final between the two teams, but the Blues won the two matches during the season, including one by more than 100 points.
McGuane said they would see what happened with defender Riley Ham during the week.
Ham hasn’t played since 13 when they faced Pascoe Vale.
McGuane said they’ve had to fight recently with injury to get to the grand final, having played 39 players this season.
The Blues reserves are also through to the grand final after a win on Sunday, while the under-18s were knocked out.
