Eagles into grand final

SFL Season 2015
Finals Week 3 reviewed by Ben Harrison 

Preliminary Final at KGV Oval

New Norfolk 11.12 (78) d Huonville 11.9 (75)
NEW Norfolk coach Caden Wilson seems still confident his hardened finals campaigners have the energy and motivation to fuel one last assault on the all-conquering Claremont in the 2015 SFL Grand Final. After hanging on for a brave win against a Huonville side that kept coming at the reigning premier all day on Sunday, New Norfolk has now earned the right to meet the Magpies for a chance to collect its sixth premiership in seven years.

It was the Eagles experience in key moments that really stood out across the day in the Preliminary Final and despite being undermanned with injuries to key playmakers Nathan Ross and Roger Belcher, the Eagles were able to hold off the motivated a Huonville outfit which were never out of the game.

New Norfolk’s goal-kicking radar was off target in the first quarter as it kicked 3.6, but it started the second quarter with the first three goals to ease out to a more comfortable break of 21 points. The Lions showed their resilience by kicking the next two goals through Kelly and coach Tim Lamprill to go to the main break within two goals and then opened the second half with the first two goals to take back the lead.

It was a battle that went from end to end for the rest of the quarter and once again the Eagles took the lead at the final change and after Brayden Chaplin and Blair Wardlaw kicked the first two goals of the final term it looked like the Eagles were safe clearing out to lead by 18 points. Huonville refused to drop out of the contest and when James Lange converted from close range and Darren Garth dribbled one through the margin was cut to three points with only minutes remaining.

The Lions threw all their might at the Eagles in the final seconds but the SFL reigning premier held tight to win by three points. In the Reserves Preliminary Final, Brighton held on to defeat New Norfolk, whHuonville comfortably accounted for Sorell by 42 points in the Colts game.