In Saturday’s warm sunshine there was a feeling that finals arrived a week early at Lindsay Hassett Oval, which was fully embraced by South Melbourne Districts as they sought to give themselves a chance at finishing second, while Brunswick failed to withstand the Swans’ high-pressure game for the second time this season, going down by 16 points.

Ultimately, Elsternwick just fended off relegation-bound Wattle Park to hang onto second place, which meant no change to the ladder resulted from this game, but for the NOBs there was much to take-away from this loss as they look forward to the second semi-final this weekend.

With a northerly blowing straight down the ground at Albert Park, the home side had the advantage in the first quarter, although it was Brunswick who drew first blood through the lively Oscar Watt with a classy snap after nine minutes. For the remainder of the term, the ball tended to live in South Melbourne’s forward-line, with the NOBs’ defence under siege. The Swans’ pressure was elite, but they failed to make the most of their chances, only managing 2.6.

When Brunswick’s turn came with the wind, they raised their game, with two early majors, one a long, bouncing effort from Will McKenzie and the second a magnificent shot from an impossible angle to Gabe Banova. But the momentum swung back to the Swans as they kicked a treble in a critical 10-minute period, the third aided by a 50m penalty. To the NOBs’ credit, they bounced back in the shadows of half-time, with Watt and Banova hitting Hayden Parker on the chest with passes, both of which the big full forward duly converted to narrow the gap to six points at the main change.

The all-important third term, so often dominated by Brunswick this season, started ominously as the home side managed to dribble a goal over the line with no defender there to intercept it. After a long goal, things then started to unravel as an errant kick across goal ended up as gift-wrapped third major, followed by one from a tight angle. Then lightning struck twice, as another failed attempt to kick across goal resulted in a fifth Swans’ goal for the quarter and the horror show that was the third quarter eventually ended with a scoreline of 6.5 to 0.2.

With the game all-but over at the final change, it was important for Brunswick to get some of their mojo back in the last quarter heading into the finals, and they did, with five unanswered goals for the term. Watt snagged his second on the goal-line early in the term, followed by a set-shot to Josh Hedley. Late on, Gus Coverdale hit the scoreboard from 40m, Marcus Foti slotted one on-the-run from distance and, after the siren, Jasper Paevere kicked a long set-shot, to make the final margin a more respectable, if slightly flattering, 16 points.

On a tough day at the office, Tom O’Farrell continued his good recent form in the ruck, Watt was always a danger and Will McKenzie showed he was getting back to his best. Foti was also very good over four quarters, while Tahj Haddock and Josh Hedley were hard at it as usual.

With many players having only recently returned to the side from injury and travel, a high-pressure game like this one can only be beneficial to the side as they prepare for the biggest game of the year. Be there as Brunswick seek to win their way back into Division One and keep their premiership dream alive this weekend!