Departing spirits for last time?

A SPIRITED Maiden Gully departed a Loddon Valley league ground for possibly the last time on Saturday having won the final quarter of play against Bears Lagoon Serpentine.

The Eagles had hinted at causing mischief for the qualifying final-bound Bears with some good turnovers in defence for three quarters.

But those efforts were always brought undone by an erratic game plan that has criss-crossed grounds all season with poorly directed chip kicks and reflexes caught out by more determined sides.

The Bears were no different on Saturday as Brohm, Laird and Draper showed Maiden Gully why one side is playing finals and the other not.

Coach Laird bobbed up at the crucial times again, stripping opponents of any momentum. Another handy three goals simply some icing on the cake, a few others sealed by his shepherding.

It did take Serpentine a while to settle, however, with both sides offline in the opening minutes before Paxton broke through with a major.

Paxton showed agility later in the term when he scooped the rolling ball off the ground and dribbled through a second goal.

Jean-Miguel Podosky was showing his worth in defence and across the midfield early, frustrating the Eagles as they tried to swoop deep.

It was only in the final seconds of the opening term that Maiden Gully put a goal on the board - Tyler Miles centreing across to Brandon Dimech who became the first player with his name on the scoresheet.

Both teams found goals early in the second term before Serpentine saw off the temporary Eagles’ surge with Ryan Prendergast and Laird combining before Maiden Gully registered two quick goals through Dimech and Wust, capping off some good work by ruckman Mathew Crooks.

The second half was a tale of Serpentine doing enough to stay ahead, but again the goals posts were not always within centre sight.

The Bears actually finished the match with a rather untidy scoreline of 22 behinds, the final term the most inaccurate returning 2.7 while Maiden Gully posted a more respectable 4.2.

Miles, McDonald and McCartney were named the Eagles’ best along with Crooks as the side departed for possibly the final time.

For Serpentine, the Bears have shown themselves to be one of the most consistent sides in the league this season.

The big test will come in Saturday’s qualifying final against Pyramid Hillthe Bulldogs and the Panthers the only sides they have not beaten in 2023.