Fans were kept on the edge of their seats on Sunday when Carey Park and Busselton found themselves playing in overtime to keep their seasons alive.
For Busselton it was pure joy but unfortunately Carey Park had to experience the bitter taste of defeat in a heart-breaker going down 15.11.101 to 16.12.108 after ten extra minutes of play.
Busselton were deserved winners after having a majority of the play throughout the first four quarters, but Carey Park will view the loss as a real blow having beaten other finals sides like Bunbury and Eaton earlier in the season.
Carey Park got off to a quicker start than their opponents but squandered opportunities and wayward kicking going forward will haunt the Panthers all summer.
It was a tussle of a first quarter which ended with Carey Park maintaining a seven point lead.
The midfield battle was evenly split and each forward line was getting the better of their opposing backline.
But Busselton made more of their opportunities in the second and third quarters.
Daniel McGinlay produced a best afield performance taking the reins and leading his team to victory.
McGinlay received all the support he needed from Damien Lee, Jackson Arbon and Nathan Bradbury who helped him dominate the Carey Park runners by getting numbers to the fall of the ball.
Five consecutive goals to end the quarter were enough to give Busselton a 19 point lead heading into half time.
The third quarter imitated the first as both sides went back into arm wrestle trying to get an edge in momentum.
Carey Park looked to be getting beaten in the inside battle but a shift of play in the last five minutes of the term saw Troy Wells kick truly to keep them in touch heading into the fourth.
The Panthers midfield finally got into a groove in the fourth quarter gaining regular inside 50s and kicking four goals to Busselton’s one.
Reese Richardson and Brayden Lawler won plenty of possessions while Tim Yarran and Viv Blurton provided strong outside run.
Carey Park needed three goals in five minutes to tie the game up and that’s exactly what the Panthers produced.
Richardson kicked the first while forward Matt Martin, who had struggled for a majority of the day, bagged the second.
The third was an opportunistic beauty snagged by Jordan Aitken.
Carey Park found themselves a point in front before a surge from Busselton saw Jordan Eastwell kick a near-miss behind and send the game into extra time.
Busselton’s fitness shone in the overtime period.
Again they owned contests with numbers and despite many inspiring rolls of the dice from Carey Park the Magpies managed the only goal of overtime.
Busselton now move on to face Eaton in next week’s semi final stage.
