By Lance Jenkinson
For Footscray Lacrosse Club, it was a wildly contrasting week of emotions.
The Bulldogs went from the depths of despair on Thursday night to cloud nine by Sunday evening.
There was devastation in the Bulldog camp on Thursday when superstar Chris Plumb, the Australian national team captain, went down with a season-ending knee injury.
While the weekend was bittersweet because of Plumb’s injury, the mood lifted considerably as the Footscray men’s and women’s teams won their way through to grand finals.
The men’s team overcame a four-goal deficit to beat Williamstown 14-11 at PJ Lynch Reserve on Saturday.
The women’s team was too strong for Williamstown in a 16-7 victory at Caulfield Park on Sunday.
Bulldogs president Tim Lane said Plumb would not want his injury to be a distraction.
“The sort of person that he is, he’s not going to be selfish and worry about his own loss,” Lane said.
“He’s just going to look to do everything he can do for the team before the grand final.
“He’ll be there on the sidelines and will still be involved with his leadership off-field.
“It was good to see the boys play with a lot of heart without him on the field.”
Footscray came back from four goals down at quarter-time to win.
It was Plumb’s replacement, Nicholas Wynne, who took charge for the Bulldogs, throwing in five goals.
“He really stepped up,” Lane said. “He had a fantastic game and filled the void where Chris would’ve played. Williamstown didn’t really have an answer for him.”
Lucas Parsons-Quintiao scored three goals for Footscray, while there were two each for James Lawerson, Kane Mollison and Matthew Davies.
Footscray will be gunning for its first premiership since 2013 on September 15.
The Bulldogs played in three consecutive losing grand finals between 2014-16 and suffered a heartbreaking straight sets finals exit last season after going undefeated in the home-and-away rounds.
Lane believes the side is better placed to finish the job this time around.
“With our new coach and sort of a new-look team, we’re much fitter than what we have been, so we have confidence we can run games out,” he said. “We’re just really excited, glad to be back there.”
Williamstown will face Surrey Park in the preliminary final this Saturday.
The Footscray women’s team will face Newport in the grand final at Newport Ladies Lacrosse Club on Sunday.
The Bulldogs are going for back-to-back premierships, while the Porters are featuring in their 45th consecutive grand final and will be looking for redemption after last year’s loss in the season decider.
“The girls are really excited,” Lane said. “It should be a good game like it always is between the two teams.”
