Hillside made history on Saturday as it won through to its first Essendon District Football League division 1 grand final.
After a number of near misses in the years since they won the division 2 premiership in 2013, the Sharks are finally through to the final game of the season in this division.
It was a strong four quarter performance against Craigieburn on Saturday, that ended the Eagles remarkable run and kept the Sharks season alive.
While the Eagles kicked the first couple of goals of the game it was all the Sharks as they won, 18.7 (115)-8.8 (56).
Sharks coach Mo Kaakour said it was pretty special to make it to the final game of the year.
“We’ve worked so hard for it and it started back in November,” he said. “The club has been around for 25 years and it’s our first division 1 grand final.
“It’ll be an exciting day with our reserves in the early game. It shows the depth at the footy club and that the club is in a good spot.”
On Saturday, the Eagles got the first couple of goals before the Sharks settled.
The Eagles led at quarter time by three points before the Sharks kicked six goals to one in the second quarter to take control.
Kaakour said they wanted to put pressure on the Eagles and make sure that they didn’t get on top.
“They were playing on confidence,” he said. “They’re a good football side and are well coached.
“It’s tough to come back in a final so we put the pressure on them early. We shut down their space.
“They like to chip it around and we took that away and played a front half game on the back of that.
“We executed really well.”
The Eagles kicked three goals with the wind in the third quarter but the Sharks were able to hold them at bay.
Seven goals in the final quarter sealed the deal for the Sharks.
Kaakour said they used their experience firstly to recover from a poor semi final and then to hold off Craigieburn.
“It was a good game offensively and defensively,” he said. “There’s no pressure without the defensive effort.
“The back seven, I thought were great and the mids owned the space as well.”
Josh Covelli kicked five goals for the Sharks.
He needs two goals in the grand final to kick 100 for a second straight season.
Lachlan Henson, who kicked three goals, was named the Sharks best along with Ryan Lojko, Ryan Schiavone.
Jackson McMenamin made a successful return from injury in a boost for the Sharks.
Kaakour said Riley Miksa was a chance to return in the grand final.
The Sharks will face Oak Park in the decider.
Kaakour said they were hoping it would be fourth time lucky against the Kangaroos.
“They are a quality side and are well coached,” he said. “We’re a different side than we were a couple of weeks ago.”
