By David Nagel
The premiership hopes of the Pakenham Football Club are still alive after the Lions reserves continued their brilliant finals form against Olinda Ferny Creek on Sunday.
The Lions backed up last week’s 41-point elimination final victory over Wandin with a gritty and grinding 6.13.49 to 1.13.19 victory over the Bloods in the first semi-final at Emerald.
The Lions trailed by a point at quarter time, but were ignited early in the second term by a great running goal from Leon Mateariki.
That sparked the Lions into action, with a 2.5 to 1.2 second quarter opening up an eight-point lead at the main break.
With Rhys Brooks proving impenetrable in the backline, the Lions built their lead to 16 points at the final change of ends before surging clear to victory.
Brooks was best on ground for the Lions, while Jackson Berry, Mateariki, Grant Barclay and Steve Young were also magnificent contributors to the cause.
Lions’ excitement-machine Kane Tyrrell gave the crowd something to cheer about in the last quarter, rising high into the Emerald sky to take an absolute screamer.
Mateariki was the only multiple goal-kicker on the ground, with two, while Tyrrell, Steve Dillon, Brody Pintar and classy left-footer Matt Valano also hit the scoreboard for the winners.
Pakenham now takes on Upwey-Tecoma in this Sunday’s preliminary final at Healesville.
The winner will take on Narre Warren in the premiership decider – at a venue still to be confirmed – on Sunday 18 September.
