An inspiring performance from Blake Lee and a big fourth quarter saw Pinjarra to a win in their grand final rematch against Waroona at Parnell Street Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The constant rain did little to dampen the celebration of Matthew Bee’s 100th game as his side absorbed a gutsy three quarters from the Demons to run out 8.4 (52) to 13.3 (81) victors.
The first three quarters were everything you’d expect from a grand final rematch, with the wet conditions providing a physical and fiery affair that saw momentum swing back and forth.
It was Pinjarra who snared the early momentum when Dom Hardy booted the first of his three to kick off the day, but Waroona was able to win consecutive centre clearances through Chad Wrigley and Zac Moody.
Player/coach Dean Taylor was the beneficiary of their early forward entries, bagging Waroona’s first after securing a 50m penalty going against Tigers star Rory O’Brien.
But the gun midfielder made up for his lapse with the next two majors, as the Tigers took a one-goal lead into the first break.
The Demons’ midfield continued to win the ball in the second term, this time through Rhett Mason and Jayden Derosa, but the only goal of the second term went to Pinjarra through the boot of Craig Milward.
The lack of scoring in the first half opened the door for a fierce battle around the ground to ensue, highlighted by Moody shadowing O’Brien for the majority.
Lee relished the gritty conditions gathering a bunch of disposals, but it was Waroona’s Max Gardiner nailing the first of the second half as the game heated up.
Brayden Sutton was a problem for Pinjarra’s defenders all day and nailed his second of three to cut the Tigers’ lead to just 13 midway through the term, but milestone man Bee had the immediate reply at the ready.
Things looked to be truly in the guests favour before Justin Guimelli cut the lead to 11.
Derosa had the chance to bring it within five points on the cusp of three quarter time, but sprayed his set shot out on the full as Pinjarra held their 11-point buffer at the final break.
Waroona desperately needed the first goal of the final quarter to keep their upset hopes alive, but it was Hardy coming through for the Tigers at the opposite end.
Pinjarra looked ready to roll through the Demons when first-gamer Logan Martin nailed his first major in league footy, and another to O’Brien midway through the term pushed the margin to 40 points.
Guimelli’s late goal did nothing to change the result, as the Tigers took their sixth win on the year.
It’s an impressive victory for a team fielding three debutantes, with Shane Coles and Adam France joining Martin in their first league matches.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
