HAWKESDALE-Macarthur coach Danny Chatfield says the Eagles “can hold our heads high” after bowing out of the Mininera and District Football League race.
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The Eagles lost a preliminary final arm-wrestle to Moyston-Willaura at Penshurst on Saturday, 10.18 (78) to 9.13 (67) after being six points down at three-quarter-time.
“We were happy with the way we went out; we gave ourselves every chance,” Chatfield said.
“But the better side won on the day.
“Both teams had opportunities. It could have went either way.”
Chatfield said Moyston-Willaura, which will meet Tatyoon in the grand final, peppered the goals in the final term.
Both sides kicked one goal but the Pumas added five behinds to their tally too.
“It was an arm-wrestle right through to the last quarter but in the last five minutes they managed to scramble a few,” Chatfield said.
“It was even with 10 minutes to go.
“They got a few behinds and one of their forwards got a free kick with a minute to go and he went back and slotted a goal.
“I am definitely proud of our boys.”
Chatfield said he was unsure if he would coach the Eagles for a second season and would weigh up his future in the next couple of weeks.
But the Warrnambool-based mentor said he loved his time at Hawkesdale-Macarthur.
“They are a great bunch of blokes out there and everyone wants to be there and that’s the good thing,” he said.
“There are no nightmares having to ring up ‘where are you?, why aren’t you at training? That’s good from a coaching side of things.”
Meanwhile, Dartmoor and Heywood will clash in the South West District league grand final.
The Lions accounted for reigning premier Coleraine in the preliminary final on Saturday. Their 12.10 (82) to 9.2 (56) triumph set up a third straight grand final appearance.
The decider is at Portland’s Hanlon Park on Saturday.