Hillside’s first Essendon District Football League division 1 finals experience didn’t go to plan for the club, with the Sharks smashed by Glenroy on Saturday.
After a positive start, the Sharks were put to the sword by a nine goal to nil third quarter from Glenroy.
With the sting out of the game and both sides looking ahead to the next couple of weeks – for the Sharks, that means a preliminary final this weekend – the last quarter was more even.
But the damage had already been done, with Glenroy winning through to the grand final, with a 21.17 (143)-6.12 (48) win.
Sharks coaching director Cole Harvey said the Hillside players weren’t able to sustain finals-like football for long enough.
“I thought we started all right,” he said. “It was a different tempo of football and our boys didn’t adjust. Most of the boys haven’t played finals football at a senior level. We weren’t able to sustain the level of speed … they had bigger bodies around the ground. They were just too good all round the ground.”
Jake Bertollo and Riza Gashi were the best for the Sharks.
A positive for the Sharks was the return of Brandon Coletta, who wasn’t expected to play again this year after injuring a hand.
He kicked two goals and was one of the Sharks’ best.
Harvey said that after a slow start, Coletta started to find some form.
“He hasn’t played for about eight weeks,” Harvey said.
“The surgeon gave him the all clear to return this week if he played with a guard. He would have tried to play even if the surgeon didn’t give him the all clear.
“He started to get a lot better in the second half. He kicked a couple goals and took an absolute screamer.
“He said he felt he was getting his touch back.”
The Sharks will face Airport West in a preliminary final this weekend.
Harvey said the players would be better for the lessons learnt from Saturday’s defeat.
“The actual experience of playing in a final is massive for our group,” he said.
“Most haven’t played senior finals. We’ll get back on the horse this week.
“It’ll be another tough game. Airport West got us in the final round of the season to seal a finals spot.”
It was a tough day all round for the Sharks, with their reserves losing to Taylors Lakes in the second semi-final.
The Sharks led at three-quarter time, but kicked just one point in the last quarter to lose 12.10 (82)-11.8 (74).
Like the seniors, the reserves have a second chance – they’ll play in a preliminary final this weekend.
The under-18s won through to the preliminary final by defeating Roxburgh Park on Sunday.
