Tara Murray
Caroline Springs fell agonisingly short of its first Western Football League division 1 grand final, losing to Werribee Districts in overtime on Saturday.
Coming off their first division 1 finals win, the Lakers faced Werribee Districts in a semi final at Skinner Reserve, with a grand final spot on the line.
The teams most recently played each other in the final round of the season, with the minor premiership on the line.
The Tigers won that day and got the week off. In their first match up earlier in the season, it was a draw.
On Saturday, the Tigers had control for much of the match.
They led by 25 points at quarter time and then 18 points at the main break.
The margin got out to as much as 30 points in the third quarter before the Lakers kicked the last three goals of the quarter against the wind to bring the margin back to 12 points.
The Lakers kicked two goals in the last quarter to bring the margin right back.
Both sides had their chances for the win, including the Lakers missing a shot not far out.
At the finals whistle, the scores were locked at 8.7 (55) apiece meaning the match would go to overtime.
Two periods of five minutes, with teams switching ends in the middle, were then played to decide a winner.
The Tigers kicked a goal just before the end of the first period of overtime to take the lead.
A behind would make the margin seven points midway through the second period and it would prove to be enough, with the Tigers winning 9.8 (62)-8.7 (55).
Ryan Allan had a day up forward for the Lakers, kicking five goals and being named his side’s best.
Alipate Bryant and Keenan O’Shea were other standouts for the Lakers.
Tigers coach Chris Gilham said he didn’t think any of his playing group had been in a situation like that before.
The Tigers now get the weekend off ahead of the grand final.
The Lakers will face Hoppers Crossing in the preliminary final for a chance to face them in the final game of the year.
The Warriors will bring plenty of confidence into the match after accounting for Yarraville Seddon on Sunday.
The Warriors kicked away in the third quarter on the way to a 13.14 (92)-6.15 (51) win.
Mitchell Kunigiskis, Jed Anderson and Riley Fisher were named the Warriors best.
It’s season over for the Lakers reserves side after losing to Spotswood on Sunday, 10.17 (77)-6.9 (45).
Biar Biar, Corey D’Lima and James Elarmaly were named the Lakers best.
In division 2, Sunshine will face Albion in the grand final.
The Kangaroos beat Newport in the preliminary final, 21.14 (140)-3.8 (26).
