Great Southern Colts Carnival: Ball movement key to Peel’s winning ways in grand final against Goldfields

The Peel Cavaliers have won a third grand final in the last six years at the Great Southern Colts Carnival, having too many answers for Goldfields in Lake Grace on Sunday. The two unbeaten teams after an enthralling first day of games met in the decider but Peel started strongly and kicked the only two goals of the final quarter to record a 26-point triumph. Ball magnet Hugh Menzies won the Clem Bray award as the player judged best on ground while spearhead Rhys McDonald was terrific with three goals to help Peel cap an undefeated weekend. Peel coach Michael Griffiths said a focus on spread and speed from stoppages and a good balance of talls and smalls in the forward half were keys in the grand final win. “Goldfields got some momentum late in the third but we just had to score first in the last to ensure we controlled the game from there,” Griffiths said. “We set it up early on and I had full faith in my boys. “The key for us was ball movement with speed and spread, and I think we did that across all games. “It was a great team performance, we picked a side that was well balanced and it really showed.” Goals to Max Foreman and McDonald had Peel in front at quarter-time while Goldfields full-forward Malachi Waters kicked one from the goal square at the other end. Peel’s midfield brigade, led by Menzies and Foreman, took control in the second term and they opened up a 22-point advantage after Riley Finerty pounced on a defensive mistake and then McDonald added his second in the dying minutes of the half. When McDonald kicked his third soon after half-time, Peel appeared well on their way to grand final glory. A determined Goldfields outfit rallied however and mounted a significant challenge on the back of some good defending and the will of skipper Judd Kelman. A 50m penalty handed Daniel Debeen a much-needed goal for Goldfields and ill-discipline again proved Peel’s downfall a few minutes later. Another 50m penalty gifted Zachary Hunter a simple conversion and got Goldfields within three goals at the final change. The game was up for grabs going into the final term as Peel led by 14 points before crafty forward Emmett Templeton made Goldfields task even harder when he slotted a set shot. Peel vice-captain Bailey Jokic then made sure of the victory, his conversion sealing the 7.8 (50) to 3.6 (24) result. Foreman and Menzies were outstanding around the ball, McDonald presented strongly and was the most dangerous forward on the ground while Jack O’Neill also shone for Peel. Griffiths said Menzies was a young star to keep an eye on in the future. “Hugh is a cracking young fella and everything he does is to make himself better,” he said. “He is striving to play at a higher level and his work at ground level was terrific. “Max’s size and athleticism and Hugh’s ground balls gave us a real advantage in the midfield and both had good speed as well.” For Goldfields, Cuba Garlett rebounded strongly throughout the decider, Kelman tried to will his side across the line and Jarrod Donaldson was impressive, but they couldn’t match the slick Peel midfielders or contain their dangerous front half. Earlier in the day Upper Great Southern claimed third place with a convincing 21-point victory over the Great Southern Storm. Scores were level at quarter-time before Upper Great Southern took control with majors from Stockton Shotter, Riley Holden and Braydon Keley. Three goals to one in the third term extended Upper Great Southern’s lead to 24 points and they did enough in the final term to prevent any Storm comeback. Shotter finished with three majors in the 7.9 (51) to 5.0 (30) win while midfielder Tom Kilpatrick was superb winning a stack of clearances and possessions. Abdul Pickett, Kacey Beard and Keley (two goals) were also key parts of Upper Great Southern’s strong finish to the two-day carnival. The Storm began their final match with only 21 players, with Josh Duffield (finger), Clay Michael (knee), George Bockman (ankle) and Mitch Paine (quad) all missing through injury. They kicked back-to-back goals through Kobi Keen and Harvey Taylor to skip out to an early 12-point lead in the second term but they couldn’t sustain it. Kobi Keen and Lachlan Cale battled hard through the midfield, Lucas Ravenhill was a real presence in the ruck and Tom Gawned again produced a strong performance. Four goals from Jack Norrish helped Eastern Districts win the fifth and sixth play-off against Ongerup. Norrish and Hugo Stockman combined for six goals as Eastern Districts ran out 31-point winners. Heath Spinks and Max Nield were strong contributors for the winners while Tobyn Lowry snared two majors for Ongerup. Hamish Ryan, Murray Hayward and Marcus Davis were Ongerup’s best players in the 5.5 (35) to 10.6 (66) loss. Esperance finished the carnival on a high, winning their first game in the seventh and eighth play-off against Lower South West. Six goals to one in the second half proved the difference in the match, as Esperance celebrated a deserving 7.5 (47) to 4.10 (34) win.