Old Eltham Collegians pulled off a remarkable final quarter comeback in their Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 opening round match against Mernda, kicking the last six goals of the game to prevail by eight points at Eltham College.

The Demons led by as much as 41 points halfway through the third term before the Turtles piled on the scoreboard pressure to trail by 25 points at the final break, and then kept the visitors to just one behind in the last quarter, while kicking five goals of their own, to finish 9.16 (70) to 9.8 (62) winners.

After a disappointing opening three quarters, it was the move to play inaugural club best and fairest winner Kieran Malone inside 50 in the final term that helped Old Eltham Collegians seal the win. He kicked two of the last three goals of the match to mark a memorable return to Eltham College for the 27-year-old.

Some of the club’s other recruits also featured in the best, with Brent Macaffer, Beaudie Maroney and Bradyn Taglieri all pivotal in certain stages of the final quarter,

But Liam Rushton-McCoach was arguably his side’s most influential player in the second half, with his effective long kicking from defensive 50 ensuring the Turtles kept the ball inside their attacking half in the crucial moments of the contest.

Mernda produced many of the game’s best players, despite their inability to hold onto their lead by the end of the match.

Joshua Mazzarella was impactful at both ends of the ground while Kai Turner was the most composed player on the field and backed up his 2023 Team of the Year selection with a dominant display in the back half.

Travis Keating got Demon fans up and about in the second quarter, kicking three goals in eight minutes of play to put Mernda in a strong position at half time.

Lachlan Taylor impressed in the ruck, filling the void left by their injured star Billy Morison superbly with his hit outs to advantage and strong marking around the ground.

It would take over eight minutes for there to be a score when the first siren sounded at Eltham College, as both sides looked to settle quickly into the match.

Mazzarella kicked off his second stint with the Demons in brilliant fashion as he snapped around his body to score his side’s first major of the afternoon. Christian Evans then followed to make it a two-goal game.

It was a sluggish opening term for the hosts, but last year’s competition leading goalkicker Matthew Williamson helped get things going for his side ahead of the first break, as he converted his set shot opportunity to help the margin stay at five points by quarter time.

Mernda produced their best quarter of the match during the second stanza, as they fired four unanswered goals, three of those from Keating, to push their advantage out to 29 points by half time.

It was in this term where Taylor really stood out, as all over the ground he helped contribute to the Demons ability to score.

On transition, the visitors were hard to stop, while the Turtles could hardly keep the ball inside their attacking half due to their opposition’s constant pressure, going on to register just three behinds for the term.

After starting the second half with consecutive behinds, Mernda kicked the all-important important first goal of the third quarter thanks to a great effort from Bryce Kimuliatis.

When Will Crouch put through the Demons’ eighth major of the game, the margin had reached a game-high 41 points and all hope of an Old Eltham Collegians comeback looked gone.

But Matthew Sleeman’s men kept pushing. Williamson kicked his second before Jay Smith made it two goals in a minute for the hosts.

Mazzarella’s second goal of the game put the momentum back in Mernda’s favour, before a late major from Thomas Burns kept the Turtles in the contest as they trailed by 25 points at three quarter time.

The home side looked to have come out a different team in the last term, as they aimed to put the pressure back onto last year’s Grand Finalists.

Old Eltham Collegians went on a rampage and goals from Matthew Keys, Jay Smith and Kieran Malone made it a three-point ball game approaching time on.

The Demons mustered a point soon after but the Turtles ability to win clearances in key stoppages mounted the pressure onto the visitors.

A high ball inside 50 was then marked by Williamson with just minutes remaining, and after missing a simple shot on goal in the first half, he converted truly when called upon to give his side their first lead of the game.

The emotions of the crowd willed the Turtles to attack again, with Malone marking deep inside 50 entry before kicking his second and seal his side’s first win of the 2024 season.

By Nicholas Sacco