By Marcus Uhe
Pakenham’s season has come to a close at the hands of Woori Yallock in a 13-point semi-final loss on Saturday afternoon.
A neck-and-neck battle between the Lions and Tigers at Emerald’s Chandler Reserve, where the margin was never more than eight points at any break in the game, finished 14.14 98 to 12.13 85 in Woori Yallock’s favour, who live to fight another day with a preliminary final against Wandin next week.
Having made a name for themselves as kings of the comeback, Pakenham found itself in somewhat unfamiliar territory with a three-point lead as the two sides turned for home, with the chance of creating a major upset on the cards as the lower-ranked half of the two seeds entering the contest.
But 6.6 to 4.2 in the final term saw the bigger bodied and more experienced Tigers overrun Pakenham as the game ticked-away.
It’s the second such occasion that the Lions have been overrun by Woori Yallock in 2023, having lead by 28 points at quarter time back in round two.
Joshua Neal caused headaches for the defenders in the Lions line-up, finishing with six goals in a season-best performance.
For Pakenham, vice-captain Jordan Stewart and speedy forward Jake Thompson kicked three goals each, with all others registering one, Matthew Vaiano, Rhys Clacy and James Harrison among their best performers.
While it was not the result Pakenham would have hoped for, a season that finished two goals from a preliminary final berth against last season’s runner up indicates a largely positive year for Ash Green’s side that found itself fighting for its life for most of the campaign in the middle of the table.
Holding off a surging Upwey Tecoma in last week’s elimination final will no doubt fuel ambitions for what is possible over the off-season, while getting games into under 19s players in Tahj De La Rue, David Sollberger and Ryan Martini will hold the club in good stead going forward.
