By Will Jeffares
Even if you tried, you could not have written a better script for what took place at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday night.
In his 50th VFL game, it was Blake O’Leary who found himself with ball in hand as the final siren sounded in Frankston.
With the scores sitting at 11.13 (79) to 13.6 (84), the equation was simple.
Kick truly, and the Dolphins would record a famous one-point victory. Miss, and Coburg would head home with the four points.
But with the footy gods shining down, it was a cool as you’d like from O’Leary, as he steered home the set shot to set off incredible scenes as teammates and supporters quickly swamped the matchwinner to celebrate the 12.13 (85) to 13.6 (84) result.
Aside from the final moments, it was an entertaining battle between the two sides, with the contest evenly poised for most of the night.
Tarkyn O’Leary kicked things off on the scoreboard, slotting a set shot from distance to break the deadlock. Coburg would quickly respond before Noah Gown hit back with a great finish.
The Lions would cancel out the big man’s goal, before adding two further majors to enter the first break with a 15-point advantage.
Matt Johnson snapped through a great goal out of the pack to get his first of the night as the Dolphins cut into the deficit, before the visitors reinstated a 14-point lead with another quick response.
After taking a great high-flying grab inside 50, Trent Mynott went back to convert his set shot, as Nick Burke threaded the needle from a tough angle to make it a one-point ball game.
A trio of behinds gave Frankston a slim lead, before a Coburg goal had them leading at the main break by four points.
Both sides would continue to trade goals in the second half, with the Lions kicking the first of the term, before Corey Ellison hit back with his first of the night. The visitors would again have a goal cancelled out by a second for Johnson as the Dolphins battled to regain the lead.
A run of three unanswered majors for Coburg pushed their lead out to 21 points late in the quarter, until Johnson got his third to bring it back to a 15-point deficit at the final break.
A flying shot on goal from the Lions quickly put the margin back out to 20 points as they looked to break the game open. Ellison would take a sliding mark inside 50 before converting from close range for his second, and to cut the margin to 14 points.
After a few chances went begging for Frankston, a 50-metre penalty for Mynott handed him his second to make it just a five-point game.
However, a 50-metre penalty for Coburg, not long after, had the deficit back out to an even two goals late in the piece.
Jackson Voss stepped up with a long bomb to set up a grandstand finish, as a rushed behind for the Dolphins had the margin sitting at five points as the clock ticked over quarter ticked over 30 minutes.
With the pressure upped, Frankston were awarded a holding-the-ball freekick inside 50 in the dying seconds.
With the siren gone and a horn blaring from the opposition supporters, O’Leary turned matchwinner, and the chaotic reaction ensued in front of the home faithful, as Frankston recorded the remarkable one-point win.
Darby Hipwell was instrumental in the midfield, collecting 23 disposals, a team-high seven clearances, and laying a whopping 16 tackles in a best on ground display.
Jackson Voss was crucial in the latter stages of the contest in a great performance, finishing with 25 disposals, nine marks, five inside 50s and a clutch goal. With Ollie Moran (19 disposals, nine marks, 10 intercept possessions), Tyson Milne (26 disposals, seven marks), and Taine Barlow (17 disposals, eight marks, eight intercept possessions) all superb in the back half of the ground.
Corey Ellison (two goals, 13 disposals, seven clearances) was quite literally everywhere for Frankston, with the big man playing down back and in the ruck while continuing to contribute in his natural habitat up forward. While Matt Johnson (three goals, 10 disposals, six marks) proved a dangerous option all night.
Tom Blamires continued his fine form to finish with 29 disposals, five marks and five inside 50s, as Trent Mynott put in a great showing as he recorded 17 disposals (11 contested), five marks, five tackles and seven inside 50s to go along with his two goals.
Angus Grant (seven disposals, five marks, 48 hitouts) was again strong in the ruck, with Nick Burke also amongst the side’s best as he tallied 12 disposals and a goal, as well as laying 10 tackles, with six being inside 50.
On his debut for the Club, Clayton Gay had nine disposals, while another milestone man, Joe Lloyd, celebrated his 50th VFL game, finishing with 10 disposals and five marks.
Jackson Kornberg’s side, who now sit 7th on the ladder, will now enjoy a well-earned break, due to a bye, before heading to Queensland for a huge clash against Southport on Saturday, May 24th, with the match starting at 12:05 PM AEST.
FRANKSTON 2.1 5.6 8.8 12.13 (85)
COBURG 4.4 6.4 11.5 13.6 (84)
GOALS
Johnson 3, Mynott 2, Ellison 2, Voss, T. O’Leary, B. O’Leary, Gown, Burke
BEST
Hipwell, Voss, Blamires, Mynott, Moran, Burke, Ellison
