Braybrook was left to lament a second-quarter blitz that proved the difference in Sunday’s Western Football League division 2 elimination final.
The Brookers produced an outstanding second half of the campaign to secure fifth position, but exited the flag race after a 34-point defeat at Yarraville Oval, 17.14 (116)-12.10 (82).
The Suns, who finished the regular season in fourth spot, piled on seven goals to one in a scintillating second-term display to power to a 40-point half-time lead.
Braybrook outscored its opponent in the second half, but the damage was done in 30 minutes as the Suns set up another sudden-death final against West Footscray this weekend.
“It was the game. Everything else was pretty much all square all day,” Brookers coach Geoff Maddern said.
“In the second quarter they played some really great footy, they got the rub of the green, they got the bounce of the ball.They just did everything right and we weren’t able to respond.”
Brandon Austin starred for the losing side, bagging five goals – his second-best return of the season – in a performance Maddern described as “incredible”.
Travis Faulds also earned the coach’s praise for his efforts across half-back, while Justin Condo, Jayden Danaher, Corey Spackman and Chase Wassell were also named in the best.
“We had our chances, our moments,” Maddern said.
“But every time we got a goal, Suns were able to answer, and that was credit to them.
“They stuck to their structures really well and ran the ball beautifully. They used the ball much better than I expected, so they were very, very good.”
The Brookers had a slow start to the year before winning seven of their last nine home-and-away games to enter finals as one of the competition’s in-form teams.
They knocked off the Suns in the last round, but were unable to repeat the feat when it mattered most.
“Very disappointed to go out but at the same time philosophical because we were 3-6 at the halfway point and 7-2 in the back half,” Maddern said.
“We played a final every week for eight weeks. Our boys have been up for a long time and they just found a few cracks in our armoury (on Sunday) and were able to exploit it, and that’s the way sport goes. Sometimes it’s just not your day.”
The Roger Hand-coached Suns were well-served by Joshua Foster, Michael Ryan, Daniel O’Leary, Joshua Harris, Matthew Wright and Kyle De Rose.
North Footscray outgunned West Footscray in Saturday’s qualifying final, prevailing by 23 points, 12.10 (82)-8.11 (59).
Sharpshooter Mathew Serafin was among the best for the winners with five goals.
Minor premier Wyndhamvale will meet North Footscray in the major semi-final.
