Bell Park has won its first final in 13 years in the most dramatic of circumstances after a late goal umpiring decision denied St Joseph’s a last-gasp victory at Scaada Stadium.
Young gun Liam Kershaw thought he had put Joeys into the first semi-final when he sent the Sherrin sailing towards Church Street with less than 30 seconds remaining.
However, the goal umpire deemed Kershaw had swung his right boot over the line and signalled touched, leaving the Dragons two points in front.
Bell Park was able to clear the ball to the outer half-back flank from the kick-in, with the siren sounding not long after.
The 7.7 (49) to 6.11 (47) result ensured the Dragons avoided a third straight elimination final exit.
Good lord what a finish #GFL @KrockFootball pic.twitter.com/a3KCcnCPfW
— Empr (@Empr_X) September 6, 2026
“Was it clearly over? I don’t even know,” Saker mused on K rock Football after the match.
“It’s a pretty gutsy call from the goal umpire, but you’ve got to play it as you see it.
“Very mixed emotions.
“I was very close to tears after the game. I don’t know if that’s just the stress or the relief.
“Amazing feeling to get it done. A bit weird how it unfolded at the end, but you take it.”
Despite conditions being much improved on what was on offer for Saturday’s qualifying final, both teams struggled to score freely.
The margin was one point at halftime, with Mitch Chafer kicking the lone goal of the third quarter to help St Joseph’s to an eight-point lead at the final change.
Werribee VFL-listed Eli Pearce cut the margin with a running goal early in the final term before his second major of the afternoon at the 14-minute mark gave Bell Park the lead for the first time since early in the second quarter.
When former Geelong VFL player Tyler Norton took his chance at the 20-minute mark with a snap from a tight angle, the Dragons appeared home.
A stunning running goal from Joeys midfielder Mal White cut the margin to four points.
Bell Park gun Hamish Lucas had the chance to seal victory with a set shot from about 45m out but sprayed it out of bounds on the full.
Joeys co-captain Joel O’Dwyer took the gamble to go straight down the middle where the ball got out the back from the marking contest.
Dragon Jett Bermingham could consider himself unlucky not to win a free kick for being held before the ball was kicked inside Joeys’ forward 50, where teammates Jack Jovanovic and Ollie Hanneysee ran into each other in the marking contest,
However, Jovanovic recovered to get a handball over the top to Al Hickey, who then gave Kershaw the chance to win the game.
St Joseph’s co-coach James Gow, who revealed post-game that he is stepping down from the position after a season sharing the role with Ron Watt, says the blame for the loss shouldn’t be carried by Kershaw, who was named his team’s best player.
“I just spoke to ‘Kersh’ and said, ‘The year you’ve had – an absolutely incredible year – you just can’t sell yourself on one moment’,” Gow said.
“He was obviously pretty upset with what happened, but he’s had the most amazing year.
“He’s an incredible kid, (and) he’s won more games for us than whatever happened just then.
“There’s plenty of moments in that game it (the result) came down to, and it’s definitely not that.”
Pearce’s performance was equalled by that of defender Matt Jones, who was tasked with quelling the influence of Joeys co-captain Paddy De Grandi.
De Grandi finished with two goals, but Jones could walk away satisfied that his contribution is a big part of why Bell Park will face Newtown & Chilwell in next Sunday’s elimination final.
The Dragons will have to make at least one change for the meeting with the Towners after Mak Lavis suffered a broken wrist in a collision with St Joseph’s defender Josh Nurnaitis.
X: @krockfootball
St Joseph’s 1.2, 4.4, 5.6, 6.11 (47)
Bell Park 2.3, 4.3, 4.4, 7.7 (49)
Goals: St Joseph’s – M. Chafer 2, P. De Grandi 2, J. Jovanovic, M. White
Bell Park – T. Pidgeon 2, E. Pearce 2, H. Lucas 2, T. Norton
Best: St Joseph’s – L. Kershaw, J. Nurnaitis, C. Foster, J. Gow, H. Smith, M. White
Bell Park – E. Pearce, M. Jones, T. Norton, I. Wareham, J. Bermingham, S. Bensted
