Royals won a thriller over Albany in the Qualifying Final at Retravision Stadium on Saturday after the Sharks missed a shot after the siren to win the game, sending the Lions straight through to the 2023 Colts Grand Final.
In one of the most exciting Colts games in years, it was Albany who got off to the better start, kicking three goals in the opening term, and going into the major break with a 13-point lead.
A fired-up Royals side came out swinging in the third term, booting five goals to two to overturn momentum, and go into the last quarter with a slight lead and their confidence up.
The final term didn’t disappoint, both teams sensing the occasion as they both booted two goals, but a missed shot after the game had Royals progressing 10.5 (65) to 9.8 (62).
Vice-captain Kaizen Beeck and Cleve Humphries were effective for the Lions, both finishing with three goals, as captain Rory Luscombe led by example, well supported by Jack Carlson and Lachlan Steytler.
The Sharks had Matthew Lane kicking three goals, with best players the gifted Aiden Clark, Samuel Westcott and Kaleb Germain.
In the Elimination Final on Sunday, also at Retravision Stadium, Railways knocked Denmark-Walpole out of the finals race in a low-scoring game, winning 5.8 (38) to 3.2 (20).
The Tigers were frugal in defence, keeping the Magpies to a solitary point up until the final quarter, before Denmark-Walpole launched a late charge, kicking three goals in the final term but the damage had been done early as Railways lived to fight another day.
The Tigers’ Flynn Jackman was the only multiple goalkicker on the day with a couple, as Riley Paxman, Brock Herbert and Mitchell Geddes were prominent.
Magpies best were their young guns Jhett Morrison-Carter, Evan Delbene and Jye Maddaffari.
This Saturday, Albany get the double-chance as they host Railways at Retravision Stadium at 10.45am, with the winner to meet Royals in the Grand Final at Sounness Park the following Saturday.
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