It was heartbreak for Lalor in the Northern Football League division 2 grand final on Saturday.
After trailing Whittlesea by six goals early in the first quarter, the Bloods hit the front for the first time late in the game.
But their joy was short lived, with the Eagles hitting back through Nicholas Horman from the next centre clearance.
That goal, Horman’s second of the final term, was enough to ensure a 14.13 (97) – 14.10 (94) victory for the Eagles.
After coming so close, the loss was hard to take for the Bloods, including playing assistant coach Jarrod King.
“It’s obviously disappointing as we went into the grand final confident we could win,” King said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t our day.”
He said that after hitting the front in the last quarter they thought they were a chance to take premiership success.
“We hit the front with about two minutes to go and they got the next centre clearance,” he said. “It was a crucial clearance for both sides and it went their way.”
King said that after the Eagles regained the lead, his side didn’t have the composure to get back in front.
Conceding the first six goals of the game was something they would rue. “You can’t give away a six-goal lead.”
The league’s leading goalkicker, Todd Hughes, booted four for the Bloods, while Nick Mafilovski, Ben Curtiss, King and Harley Ryan were their other most effective players.
The grand final appearance is a long way from where the club was a couple of years ago.
“Twenty-four months ago we were looking at relegation to division 3 and we survived by only five per cent,” King said.
“But it’s still an empty feeling at the moment.”
He said the loss would drive the club on next year.
“On the bus back to the club after the game the boys spoke about next year and how quickly we can get over it,” he said.
“We know what sort of players we need to recruit and know North Heidelberg [relegated from division 1] will be very strong.
“We got a small taste of what winning a premiership may be like when we hit the front close to the end.
“But missing out will make everyone want it so much more.”
