Tara Murray
Burnside Heights will reload and come back bigger and better after a straight sets exit in Essendon District Football League division 2 competition.
After narrowly following short in the semi finals against Taylors Lakes, the Bears took on Westmeadows on Saturday for a second shot at the grand final.
Early it was the Bears, but the Tigers warmed into the game.
The Tigers were able to finally find their kicking boots in front of goal in the second half to run away with an 8.17 (65)-6.9 (45) win.
Bears coach Cole Harvey said they were beaten by a better team on the day.
“I spoke to the boys after the game and said it was a tough day after a fantastic year,” he said. “Westy was fantastic and almost at full strength and they were pretty good.
“We were concerned about their leg speed and ball movement. It could have gotten ugly if they had kicked straight.”
After being hit hard by injuries in the semi final, the Bears had to make a number of changes.
Harvey said they took in a couple of players underdone which they normally wouldn’t have done
He said after having luck with injuries during the year, they had none at the right time of the year.
Daniel Hovey kicked three goals for the Bears, while Riley McLaughlin, Tyson Iglesias and Luke Bonello were named their best in the preliminary final.
Harvey, who is in his second year in charge, said looking back it had been a really good season.
“I thought we had earned our spot in second place,” he said. “Taylors Lakes has definitely been the best team all year.
“Westy has been fantastic. At the start of the year if you had said to me at the start of the season we would have got two finals into some of the kids, I would have taken it every day of the week.
“Getting that finals experience is invaluable. Some had never played senior finals before.”
Harvey said they were likely to have a couple of players that would retire, so they would be disappointed they didn’t make the grand final to give them the chance to end on a winning note.
He said the group would look to go again next season.
“The sun comes up,” he said. “Looking forward to having a good reflection individually and as a group in a couple of weeks.
“We’ll have a well earned break and November will be upon us.”
The Tigers will face Taylors Lakes in the grand final on Saturday at Windy Hill.
