LALOR, VIC. — Watsonia came from behind to win an entertaining elimination final against Heidelberg West at Lalor Reserve by 28 points in week one of the Northern Football Netball League’s Division 3 finals.
With the Hawks debuting in senior finals action and the Saints not having won a final since their 2026 Division 3 grand final triumph, both sets of fans came along full of enthusiasm, hope and anticipation.
WATSONIA: 2.4 2.6 5.10 11.13 (79)
GOALS: Cameron Cloke 5, Luke Stone 2, Jai Bartzis, Seb Tarczon, Cody Tulloch, Bailey White.
BEST: Nathan Hallyburton, Seb Tarczon, Mason Grech, Luke Lowry, Ned Harvey, Ryan Talarico.
HEIDELBERG WEST: 2.4 4.5 6.8 7.9 (51)
GOALS: Bryce Barns 3, Waylon Davey 2, Will Bruce, Louis Hill.
BEST: Connor Dunne, Waylon Davey, Max Post, Will Bruce, James Tasiyan, Zac Smith.
Watsonia had one late change to the announced line-up when Cameron Cloke made his return after missing the previous week.
The first term was even in general play, and the scoreboard perfectly reflected this with a 2.4 apiece scoreline. Heidelberg West’s Bryce Barnes looked dangerous up forward with two goals from marks, including a speccie at the ten-minute mark.
Down the other end, a Saints player also took a specie and goaled. It was small forward Seb Tarczon. Cloke kicked another in a hotly contested beginning to a game as is expected in finals football.
The second term was hard work for Watsonia. They couldn’t find an avenue to goal due to the pressure being applied by the Hawks all over the ground.
Barnes kicked his third after a pass from Michael Italia, then Waylon Davey nailed a set shot late in the half. Heidelberg West went into the sheds 11 points up and with momentum.
The Hawks made it four unanswered goals either side of half time when Davey and Louis Hill snapped majors by the three-minute mark to take the lead out to 23 points. If the score differential is imagined to be a rubber band, it looked close to snapping at this juncture of the game.
But then the Saints lifted and, little by little, began to fight their way back into the contest. Goals to each of the three keys forwards in Jai Bartzis, Luke Stone and Cameron Cloke brought the margin back to just four points at the last change.
At the huddle, Watsonia coach Anthony McGregor praised his team’s execution and commitment. He encouraged them to use overlap run in order to get deep entries into the forward fifty.
Everything worked to plan in the final term for the Saints. Within the first minute, forward Luke Stone snapped a goal to put them in front. From that point onwards, Heidelberg West had no answers and their players looked like they were out of petrol tickets.
Cloke came to the fore and booted three majors from set shots while the defence held up strongly. Will Bruce’s goal was the only major for the Hawks from early in the third quarter until the end of the game.
Once Watsonia got their overlap run and forward handball game going, they were able to get lots of good looks inside forward fifty. They were able to remain calm and patient when the game looked to be slipping away.
Then, once, they had the game back on their terms, they were able to make it count on the scoreboard, scoring nine of the last ten goals.
While Cameron Cloke was influential on the field, he has been great for the young Saints players off it. His leadership of the youngsters has been outstanding, and they relish all the guidance they receive.
“We’ve improved,” said Watsonia coach Anthony McGregor. “I thought we had the ability to compete with our youth and speed. We knew we had the legs to run the game out. It’s been a focus for us.”
McGregor noted that Cloke’s size, strength and experience helped late in the game. He also loved the work of Mason Grech in the ruck, Luke Sansonetti in defence, and the Talarico brothers Ryan and Dean. He also appreciated the work of midfielder Nathan Hallyburton who played an outstanding game.
The joy of the long-awaited finals appearance for the Brown and Gold turned into sorrow at the end of the day.
“We were not good enough for long enough,” said Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen. “We put ourselves into a position to win a final. That was an important step. I hope the boys can carry on with it next year and learn how to win these types of games.”
Missen liked the work of Connor Dunne as an intercept defender. He also mentioned that Will Bruce played one of his best games for the season, while Bryce Barnes could’ve kicked a few more goals but lacked good supply as the game wore on.
While the season is finished for the Hawks, Watsonia progresses to another knock-out final when playing Mernda this Sunday, August 23, at the same venue.
