Straight-kicking bombers rewrite the script

COBDEN continually refuses to stick to the script.

The script the football community wrote pre-season, the one that said Cobden would improve but still miss the top-five.

The Bombers, for so long underrated, are one victory away from the Hampden league grand final.

They will finish no lower than third four spots higher than last season with one of the youngest lists in the competition.

Cobden will play Warrnambool in the second semi-final this weekend after it stunned Camperdown in the qualifying final at Terang on Saturday.

The 13.5 (83) to 10.11 (71) win came after Wayne Robertson's men rushed to a 36-point lead at the long break with a 10-goal first half.

They settled better, were super-efficient going forward and had fleet-footed small forwards who were irresistibly good.

Most importantly, they made their hard work count by kicking straight 6.1 in the first term, 4.1 in the second.

The ability to convert when in control of the match was the key difference in the qualifying final.

When Cobden dominated in the first half, it influenced the scoreboard with precision and consistency.

When Camperdown took over after the long break, it couldn't kick goals with the same regularity.

The Magpies were back in the game in the third quarter, but wayward kicking undid their good work.

Within a few minutes, a flying Aaron Sinnott shot from close range went out on the full, Sam Gordon missed a set shot and Sam Chapman sprayed on the run.

Cobden transferred the ball to the other end where Sam Cunnington's slick handball found Louis Cahill, who goaled from the boundary.

The major one of only three the Bombers kicked in the second half put them 44 points up and was perhaps the most important kick of the game.

Camperdown rallied, impressively, but the damage had been done.

"Ideally, it would've been good to win by five or six goals, but we did a lot of work early on to set up that win," Robertson said.

"They were always going to come.

"Good sides keep coming when there's a lot to play for."

Camperdown coach Bernard Moloney similarly highlighted, and lamented, the first half.

"You've got to start well in finals. Cobden settled a lot better than we did, their pace and spread was better than ours," he said.

"We were reactionary. We were trying to stay in the game by reacting to what Cobden did, rather than create things for us."

Cobden's early goal rush came courtesy of its young forwards.

Cahill, Sam Cunnington, Zac Merrett, Tom Spokes and Brendan Richardson kicked eight of their 13 goals and six of 10 in the first half.

They put the finishing touches on heroic efforts from the top tier best-on-ground Joe Dare, giant Levi Dare and defensive generals Aidan Cole and Paul Hinkley.

The Bombers had contributors all over the ground before half time, while Camperdown battled and was losing men fast.

Darren Cheeseman was one of only a few impressive Magpies, while the excellent Nick Bateman had three first-half goals before going off with back spasms.

Heath Moloney copped a knock to the head and Jahd Anderson required stitches in his head.

Chapman received a scratch on a cornea and played out the game up forward.

The Victoria Country representative was below-par early but was one of the reasons Camperdown fought back so well.

He kicked three goals in the second half and was among a host of Magpies who lifted.

Fraser Lucas was direct of half back, Cheeseman remained consistent and Tom Gordon had an influence at both ends of the ground.

The one-time flag favourite became a better team the longer the game went on.

Its best passage of play was late in the third term when Matt Sinnott, Luke Clarke and Chapman all hit targets by foot and Tom Gordon finished with a set-shot goal.

The goal reduced the Magpies' deficit to 31 at three-quarter time, but they didn't kick another goal until 10 minutes into the last term.

The late flurry bodes well for this weekend, but was not enough to save them from wasting an invaluable double chance.

afawkes@standard.fairfax.com.au