Minyip Murtoa have booked its ticket to Wimmera Football League grand final after a gallant fight back against Stawell Warriors.
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It was a day of ups and downs for both clubs, but it was Minyip Murtoa who finished on top.
Minyip Murtoa’s Nick Kelson sealed the match with a goal late in a fourth quarter that went for more than an hour with an ambulance called 45 seconds in.
All round nice guy Luke Chamberlain laid a tackle on David Andrivon and as a result was in trouble.
Chamberlain left the ground via ambulance with a suspected compound break to his lower leg.
The Burras were up by four points when the incident occurred, but were flat when the game resumed.
Warriors kicked the next two goals following the 40 minute break in play.
With a 14 point lead, the buzz was dying out.
Minyip Murtoa found another gear though and Stawell were left on the flat foot.
Minyip Murtoa coach Jaye Macumber said it was a credit to his guys they way they responded.
“It probably took our guys a few minutes to adjust once Luke Chamberlain went down,” he said.
“When one of your favourite players, one of your leaders and your assistant coach go down like that, it leaves a lot of the blokes out there quite uncomfortable,”
The win sees Minyip Murtoa with both its senior and reserves teams in both the netball and the football.
Macumber was ecstatic to see his team secure a grand final berth.
“We showed a lot of heart in that last few minutes,” Macumber said.
On the other side of the table Warriors also showed hearr, but fell just short.
Brad Thomas may be the heart breaking story of the season as he was sidelined with a foot injury.
Thomas injured his foot during the week and work and had to undergo surgery. He sat the preliminary final on the bench.
Thomas may be in the black and red again next season, but his coaching days are over.
“I didnt come here for a president,” Thomas said.
“I wanted the club to be in a better position that what it was, and I have done that. A premiership would have been awesome , but we fell short.”
Thomas was one of 21 other players who was flat after the final siren.
“It wouldnt be so bad if we were down on the day, but we were the better side,” Thomas said.
“We had bounces go against us, calls go against us and we let ourselves down at times.”
Minyip Murtoa will now meet Horsham Saints in the grand final next weeks at Horsham City oval.
WImmera Football League preliminary final results
Wimmera Football League Seniors 2016
Minyip Murtoa Burras 0.2, 4.6, 6.7, 8.9 (57)
Stawell Warriors 1.5, 3.5, 5.9, 7.12 (54)
GOALS
Minyip Murtoa Burras :
Nicholas Kelson 3, Jae McGrath 2, Kieran Delahunty 2, Clinton Young 1
Stawell Warriors :
Thomas Eckel 3, Benjamin Taylor 2, Sam Williams 1, Thomas Taurau 1
BEST
Minyip Murtoa Burras :
Nicholas Kelson, Kade Petering, Adam Gerdtz, Justin Garth, Brylie Cameronn, Clinton Midgely
Stawell Warriors :
Jesse Poulton, David Morris, Thomas Eckel, Jackson Dark, Jamie Bach, David Andrivon
==========
Wimmera Football League Reserves
Stawell Warriors 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 7.6 (48)
Horsham Saints 1.0, 3.1, 5.4, 5.5 (35)
GOALS
Stawell Warriors :
James Devery 2, Adam Clayton 2, Tom O'Neill 1, Koby Stewart 1, Nicholas Considine 1
Horsham Saints :
Zack Taggert 2, Richard Bansemer 1, Bernard Ward 1, Corey Mann 1
BEST
Stawell Warriors :
Koby Stewart, Robert Armstrong, Jarrod Illig, Jesse Barber, Aaron Freeland, Angus Barham
Horsham Saints :
Garry Hallam, John - Paul Manserra, Corey Mann, Richard Bansemer, Bernard Ward, Lachlan King
==========
Wimmera Football League Under 17's
Horsham Saints 5.5, 6.6, 7.8, 8.9 (57)
Ararat Rats 2.0, 3.4, 6.5, 8.7 (55)
GOALS
Horsham Saints :
Mitchell Martin 2, Zachary Smith 2, Jackson Walsgott 1, Angus Gove 1, Connor O'Beirne 1, Kieren Priestley 1
Ararat Rats :
Cori Corrigan 2, Cooper Heard 2, Hamish Jennings 2, Paddy Turner 1, Jack Antonio 1
BEST
Horsham Saints :
Zachary Smith, Angus Gove, Oliver Timms, Nicholas Caris, Joshua Hedt, Connor O'Beirne
Ararat Rats :
Logan North, Ben Boatman, Isaiah Palamo, Baydn Cosgriff, Jake Morgan, Cody Lindsay
==========
Wimmera Football League Under 14's
Ararat Rats 2.4, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 (36)
Warrack Eagles 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0 (6)
GOALS
Ararat Rats :
Flynn Jamieson 2, Seth Thomas 1, Luke Spalding 1, Matthew Spalding 1
Warrack Eagles :
Charlie Penny 1
BEST
Ararat Rats :
Matthew Spalding, Luke Spalding, Kaiden Walton, Logan McKinnis, Brenton Lewis, Blade Wells
Warrack Eagles :
Lachlan Golder, Charlie Penny, Samuel Cooper, Lachlan Stewart, Dane Stewart, Dylan Watts