Tara Murray
Wyndhamvale was finally the team to lock up the fourth and last finals spot in the Western Region Football League division 2.
Three teams have filled the fourth spot in the back part of the season and in the end it went down to the final round.
Newport started the round in the four and a win against an undefeated Point Cook Centrals would have sealed that spot.
The Falcons needed to beat Albion and hope the Centrals kept their winning streak intact.
The latter is what happened, with the Falcons securing a finals spot.
Falcons coach Luke Wenlock said they were relieved to have won through to finals. The side was on top last year and poised to strike when the season ended early due to COVID-19.
“It was a really close year and it was never going to be a certainty,” he said.
“A couple of other teams have recruited well and done really well. It would have been nice to have done it earlier, but we’re still happy.”
Wenlock said there was some awareness of what was happening in the Newport and Point Cook Centrals, with it being the radio game.
He said fans at the ground were listening to the match.
“We didn’t think too much about it,” he said. “We knew that Newport was up by about 20 points at half time.
“But we had our own battles to look after.”
Wenlock said their game was a strange one. The Falcons kicked the first six goals, before Albion reduced the margin to two points at half time.
The Cats led by one point at three quarter time, before six goals to two in the final term sealed a 15.15 (105)-12.12 (84) win for the Falcons.
Wenlock said they knew it was always going to be a tough ask.
“They are a good side and to have a percentage over 100 for a team that has lost more games than they’ve won, shows they’re competitive.
“They made us work for it.”
Mathiang Kak kicked six goals for the Falcons, while Jayme Gilmore kicked four goals.
Wenlock said Tyler Tessari, Mackenzie Parker and Alexander Hamilton were their best.
The Falcons play North Footscray in a knockout semi final. Point Cook Centrals will play Parkside for a spot in the grand final in the other semi final.
Wenlock said they can’t wait to play finals again after the last couple of years.
“If we can play anywhere near our best we think we can beat anyone on our day.”
