NORTH Ballarat Rebels are one step from reaching a TAC Cup under-18 grand final at Etihad Stadium.
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The Rebels had to beat Geelong Falcons – one of only two teams that got the better of them this season, and the Falcons did so twice.
Remarkably, the Rebels fought back from six goals down, half-way through the second quarter, to claim a two-goal win in a qualifying final at Carlton’s Princes Park on Saturday.
Early play was all about the Falcons’ prowess, physical presence and skill.
The Rebels grit out the second quarter, but failed to make any in-roads on buffer the Falcons held until a huge second half.
They looked hungry. They looked excited. They genuinely looked liked they believed they could win this game. The match was two goals in the Falcons’ favour by three-quarter-time, flattered by a Falcon kick on the siren.
The Falcons booted the opening goal of the fourth quarter to push the margin to three. Then the Rebels hit hard.
While the Rebels clawed back within six points quickly and early in the fourth they desperately peppered the goal face for a string of five behinds until finally, clever play and a Connor Byrne kick snatched the lead.
The Falcons then chipped back with behinds but the Rebels defence, led by Billy Lloyd, was ruthless and the best the Falcons could manage was to level scores.
Jacob Hopper, holding strong in the goal square, made a snap to regain the Rebels’ lead and Jacob Wheelahan booted the sealer.
Rebels coach David Loader spoke a lot about belief with his players at each break. Belief has been a key Rebels’ theme this season. Loader said it helped take the team to a minor premiership.
“Our message to the boys was really simple,” Loader said. “We didn’t get complicated talking about all little things because right from the start of the season, we’ve felt this group knows what it has to do and the plans to follow. We just reiterated they had to keep believing.”
The Rebels have reached their first TAC Cup preliminary final since 2012. They also finished atop the ladder that season and scraped through a tight qualifying final but were thoroughly beaten in the preliminary final. Rebels coach David Loader said that season, players took a break in the week between, this time he wants Rebels to keep routine and focus.
DETAILS
REBELS 2.3 4.6 11.11 16.15 (111)
FALCONS 7.2 9.4 14.5 15.9 (99)
GOALS – Rebels: Rioli 4 Cowan 3 Hopper 2 Johnston 2 Tucker Wellings Byrne Wheelahan Eades.
Falcons: Blair 5 Curnow 4 Kol 3 Mathieson 2 Sexton.
BEST – Rebels: Lloyd Cowan Meek Eades Hopper Simpson.
]Falcons: Curnow Blair Parish Kershaw Zdybel Doedee.