Tara Murray
Keilor will have to respond after its most disappointing performance in the past couple of years if it’s to keep its hopes of back-to-back Essendon District Football League premier division flags alive.
Having lost just one game in the past two seasons, the Blues have put out strong performance after strong performance.
‘It was a very un-Keilor type of performance on Saturday as they were comprehensively beaten by Pascoe Vale, with the Panthers winning through to their first premier division grand final.
There wasn’t much to smile about for the Blues in the loss.
They trailed by six points at quarter time and 21 points at half time. The margin was 22 points heading into the final quarter.
The Blues continued to chip away, but the Panthers had all the answers on the way to a 15.14 (104)-10.10 (70) win.
Blues coach Mick McGuane was full of credit to the Panthers saying that they were outplayed.
“They were good,” he said. “We certainly helped them… But they certainly made it really difficult to get our game going.”
McGuane said they didn’t use the play well, especially going inside 50, with that facet of the game the worst he had seen all year.
He said it’s one thing they will need to improve if they’re to continue on in finals.
McGuane said at stages they seemed to be getting in control of the game, but they were their own worst enemy.
“It’s about having opportunity and taking it and we didn’t,” he said. “Corey Ellis kicked a goal in the third quarter and got it back within eight points and we had a bit of momentum.
“We then made a couple of poor decisions in defensive transition. We coughed up a simple execution piece by hand or foot when having the footy going our way.
“It’s then going the other way.”
Christos Kosmas was the standout for the Blues, kicking five of his side’s 10 goals.
Blair Wylie and Bradley Xavier were others named in the best.
The Blues get a second chance having finished on top of the ladder after the regular season.
They will face Strathmore on Sunday in the preliminary final.
It could be a very different looking Keilor side that takes to the field.
McGuane said there could be seven players come back into the side depending on how they get through training.
A couple will come back from Victorian Football League commitments, while others will have to get through a block of training to be included.
Nathan Colenso, Jovan Petric, Riley Ham, Cody Brand, Mason Thomas and Joseph Ciranna are among those who didn’t line up for the Blues on Saturday.
It was a tough day all round for the Blues with their reserves and under-19s also suffering losses.
They also have a second chance.
