Coach Ned Aulsebrook was adamant East Geelong wasn’t paying heed to the external noise of past finals failures, and his players proved him right, beating Bell Post Hill by 38 points to advance to its first GDFNL grand final since 2012.
The Eagles were growing an unwanted reputation as finals chokers, having won just one of their past seven outings at St Albans Reserve, including being bundled out of the flag race in straight sets after finishing minor premier in 2022 and 2024.
It was a fate that could have befallen them again this year after posting the competition’s best home-and-away record before losing last week’s second semi-final to grand final opponent North Geelong.
History is history, and you guys (the media) are just stating what’s happened,” Aulsebrook said.
“But the idea of us not being able to cope in the finals pressure cooker was something that everyone else was talking about.”
East was unable to shake the Panthers’ challenge until the second half.
Leading by 12 points at half-time, the Eagles kicked three goals to one in the third quarter to extend the margin to a more comfortable 25 points at the final change.
Any hopes of a final-quarter charge from Bell Post Hill were put to bed when Zac Smith and Caleb Ezard kicked the first two goals for East.
“They came at us; they’re a good side,” Aulsebrook said. “They’ve got some really, really good players.
“We weathered that storm a couple of times, and then we got the game back on our terms, and the ball movement was brave.
“We didn’t go into our shells, and we were a lot cleaner with the ball today than we were seven days ago, when we probably didn’t handle normal pressure as well as we could have.
I think Bell Post Hill’s pressure was brilliant today, also. It was a really hot contest, particularly in the first half.
“We just did a lot better at absorbing that and not shying away from the contest and backing our structures and our ball movement.”
Smith’s six goals ultimately proved the difference, but it was milestone man Sam Lowe that Aulsebrook singled out.
Aulsebrook believes Lowe, making his 100th appearance in maroon and gold, suffered a facial fracture during the second quarter but played out the contest.
Despite the injury, Aulsebrook expects Lowe to be right for the grand final.
“He was exceptional,” Aulsebrook said.
“He put his head in spots where he should never be going; he took a couple of exceptional marks going back with the flight.
“He is the ultimate teammate. He’s an awesome human, and he really stood up today, and the boys jumped on his back.”
Lara recruit Galen Munari spent the day minding Bell Post Hill ball-magnet Dyl Witney and, along with Paddy O’Brien-Henderson and Jack Dickson, was named in East Geelong’s best.
Lachie Wilson kicked three goals for the valiant Panthers, who had won knockout finals against Anakie and Belmont Lions to give themselves a crack at their first grand final since 2017.
Dylan Godwin and Tim Barton also battled hard.
Saturday’s decider will mark the first senior grand final battle between the two clubs since 1988, when they met in the Division 2 decider.
East Geelong is looking to end a 16-year premiership drought, last winning in 2009, beating Bell Post Hill.
For North Geelong, its most recent success came in 2013, also against the Panthers.
As well as winning the second semi-final, the Magpies defeated the Eagles in both home-and-away meetings.
However, Aulsebrook is well aware from his Barwon Heads experience that those results mean nothing ahead of next week.
“I pulled the boys in after the game before we went inside; it was just us as players,” Aulsebrook said.
“I had (assistant coach and Modewarre recruit) Jeremy Ollis next to me – he loves it when I talk about this.
“But I said in 2018 we beat Modewarre three times during the year, and they beat us in the grand final.
“In 2022, Torquay beat us three times during the year, and we beat them in the grand final.
“I believe it can happen, and we all believe our footy’s good enough.”
X: @krockfootball
EAST GEELONG 4.3, 6.4, 9.6, 13.9 (87)
BELL POST HILL 3.2, 4.4, 5.5, 7.7 (49)
GOALS: East Geelong: Z. Smith 6, R. Lempa, C. Lowndes, J. Beardsell, N. Aulsebrook, C. Ezard, A. Steele, S. Lowe
GOALS: Bell Post Hill: L. Wilson 3, J. Flaccavento, F. Jones, J. Yates
BEST: East Geelong: S. Lowe, G. Munari, P. O’Brien-Henderson, J. Dickson, Z. Smith, C. Ezard
BEST: Bell Post Hill: D. Godwin, T. Barton, J. Flaccavento, T. Bryans, L. Wilson, J. Yates
