Thomson holds off Bannockburn in Elimination Final

BANNOCKBURN’S season has come to an end, going down by three goals to Thomson at St Albans Reserve this afternoon (Sunday, August 25) in the Geelong & District Football League (GDFL) Elimination Final.

After squeezing into finals last week by less than 1 per cent, Bannockburn were felled by Paul Lynch’s Thomson outfit, 9.11 (65) to 7.5 (47) in an impressive outing for last year’s Grand Finalists.

Led by Thomson’s staunch defence, the fourth-seeded Tigers never dominated the game but increased their lead at every break.

Thomson led by just two points at quarter-time (21-19) and only three points at the main break (36-33).

Thomson’s backline, led by Travis McGuire, Stephen Salajan and Sam Jacka, only allowed two majors to be scored on them in the second half as Ron Pilgrim’s Bannockburn side failed to create  scoreboard pressure.

Lynch’s Tigers had a 51-40 advantage at three-quarter time before again limiting Bannockburn to one goal in the fourth term to win the contest by 18 points.

Jordan Camm, Jackson Macleod and Darcy Troop each kicked two goals on the afternoon. Lucas Boyd, Sam Jacka and Jacob Knight also scored goals in the win.

Camm, Charley Donohue, McGuire, Troop, Macleod, and Lucas Boyd were named best on ground for Thomson. Tom Bath, Leigham Elzinga, Jaxon Elzinga, Luke Bowdern and Reece Conca were named the same for Bannockburn.

Fletcher Wilson was Bannockburn’s only multiple goal-getter, and skipper Kieran Fulton, Josh Kunjka, Rob Maibaum and Ashton Phillips were all contributors as well.

The Tigers next face Werribee Centrals back at St Albans next Sunday in the Semi-Final at 2pm.

The Second Qualifying Final between East Geelong and Belmont will take place the day before, with the winner to go through to the GDFL Grand Final.