IT was the dress rehearsal for the main show.
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Terang Mortlake was the more polished performer, accounting for Camperdown in a hard-fought final-round tussle at Leura Oval on Saturday.
But both sides have identified areas they want to refine before the main act — next week’s Hampden league elimination final, which will pit them against each other for the second time in seven days.
Bloods coach Matthew Irving felt his side was reactive early and lacked tackling ferocity in the first half.
His Magpies counterpart Dan Casey was frustrated with his side’s lack of accountability, particularly in the fourth term when the Bloods kicked three easy goals from close range on their way to a 11.10 (76) to 7.16 (58) win.
In short, both clubs believe they can improve in next week’s cut-throat final, setting up a tantalising encounter.
Irving, who has guided the Bloods to their first finals series in three seasons, described Saturday’s match as “a game of two different halves”.
Camperdown had the ascendancy in the first half.
They pressured the Bloods into mistakes, Luke Clarke won the ball out of the middle and key defender Nick Bateman, who was one of their strong four-quarter performers, quelled Chris Bant’s influence.
The Pies could have put Terang Mortlake at arm’s length at the long break if not for inaccuracy in front of goal. But the Pies didn’t adjust to the breeze and were wayward, their 3.12 to half-time only good enough for a six-point buffer.
Irving said the Bloods regrouped at half-time and lifted their work rate and intensity.
Teenagers Jason Lee and Tom Smith, who kicked three goals between them, were dangerous and smooth-moving onballer Wil Pomorin broke the lines with his pace as Terang Mortlake clawed its way on top.
“What we approached at half-time was our contested footy,” Irving said.
“Our tackles were way down on what they’d usually be. We usually average 21 or 22 a quarter and we were at 16 or 17 and then in the third quarter we got 30 tackles and 30 handball receives in one quarter and when we’re doing that, that’s when we’re playing better footy.”
The Bloods’ pressure culminated in a three-quarter-time lead.
They kicked three goals to one in the third term — a fiery stanza in which both teams gave away 50-metre penalties — to be five points up at the final change.
Terang Mortlake slotted three of the first four goals of the final quarter to rattle Camperdown.
Those majors were kicked from the goal square, with impressive teenager Tom Smith, veteran Stephen Staunton and Matthew Baxter hurting the Pies’ chances with easy conversions.
Casey did his best to keep the Pies in it and his third goal of the quarter, a clever soccer snap while laying on the ground, got Camperdown back within seven points at the 19-minute mark.
But Sargeant’s third sealed the Bloods’ win minutes later before Bant slotted the final goal of the game.
Casey lamented the Pies’ drop-off. But the key forward expects both sides to learn from the round 18 fixture and play at a higher level in the final.
“I was a bit disappointed with how we played. What we pride ourselves on is our accountability and pressure and I think Terang kicked four goals just running into open goals and that has never happened to us.
“The pleasing thing is we can get better. And I have no doubt they can get better.
“It’s going to be a cracking elimination final.”
The dress rehearsal is done. And both sides are determined to shine on the big stage.