Soaring Magpies set up NEAFL decider
This article and photo first appeared in the Canberra Times
By Jon Tuxworth
Two years ago, Belconnen won just two games, was rooted to the bottom of the ladder and premiership glory looked miles off.
But after beating Ainslie 18.15 (123) to 16.11 (107) in Saturday’s North East Australian Football League eastern conference preliminary final, it has a chance to complete the fairy tale in next Sunday’s grand final against Sydney Swans.
Belconnen led by 50 points at half-time but survived a real scare after Ainslie launched a spirited second-half fightback at Kippax Oval.
A seven-goals-to-two third quarter from the visitors reduced the gap to 21 points at the final change. And when Ainslie kicked the first major of the last quarter, it looked ready to overrun the Magpies.
But Belconnen managed to lock the game down, setting up a decider on its home ground against the Swans.
The Swans pummelled the Magpies by 81 points in last week’s major semi but Ainslie coach Chris Rourke backed Belconnen to pull off a huge upset.
He insists Kippax Oval’s tight confines will suit it and said it was capable of repeating Queanbeyan’s effort in beating the Swans in last year’s grand final.
”Queanbeyan proved last year the club footy teams have a lot of pride and Belconnen will play like their lives depend on it,” Rourke said.
”This little ground will make it very interesting for the Swans and I’d probably have my money on Belco.
”In the second half, we went and won the ball – I thought we were pretty brave.
”Belconnen played hard finals footy, it probably took us half a game to adjust.”
After his 100th game for the club, Magpies ruckman Matthew Porter said the pain of 2011 had galvanised the squad.
”There’s not many of us left but a lot of the young guys from then are still around and have developed well, the future’s pretty bright for us,” he said.
Belconnen player-coach Matt Lokan assumed the position for last year’s season and said the Magpies’ journey back to the top was extremely satisfying.
”It was a couple of tough years for the boys,” he said.
”We’ve turned it around and we’re playing in a grand final now against a pretty mighty Swans outfit.”