THE Bendigo Senior Secondary College Lions will play on the MCG as a curtain-raiser to the Collingwood versus Carlton blockbuster on June 29.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Lions advanced to the School Sport Victoria Premier League grand final with a 17-point win over Hallam Secondary College on Wednesday.
Their opponents on the MCG will be Box Hill Secondary College, who handed Catholic College Bendigo an 87-point thumping in Wednesday’s other semi-final.
Leading by just eight points at the start of the last quarter, BSSC was feeling the heat when Hallam goaled inside the opening minute.
The Lions showed they were up for the fight as Justin Bateson, Justin Laird and Daniel Davie all goaled.
BSSC held off Hallam to win 6.7 (43) to 3.8 (26).
Lions` coach David Newett praised the players on their workrate and abilty to respond to Hallam`s pressure.
"Today was a fantastic four-quarter performance.
"The back six, led by Harry Conway and Daniel Davie, was magnificent.
“This win was great reward for effort and dedication.”
Bendigo SSC`s best in the semi-final victory were Harry Conway, Ryley Barrack, Sam Simmons, Daniel Davie, Lachlan Tardrew and Justin Bateson.
Justin Bateson and Justin Laird kicked two goals each. Sam Simmons and Daniel Davie were also on target.
Box Hill will be tough for BSSC to beat.
The Melbourne-based school outclassed CCB, 17.11 (113) to 4.2 (26).
Although he was disappointed about the final margin, CCB coach Lee Coghlan praised the team`s second-half fightback.
Completely outplayed for a lot of the opening 40 minutes, CCB`s defensive pressure and run lifted dramatically after half-time.
"We started to win or even a lot more contests in the air or at ground level,`` Coghlan said.
"Box Hill`s play was awesome in that first half.
"They were bigger and stronger than us in a lot of positions.
"Box Hill`s teamwork put us under a huge amount of pressure.
"Full credit to them for the way they played, but I was rapt with how the CCB boys kept on persisting."
CCB`s best were Rhys Deacon, Bailey Graham, Tom Broadbent, Joseph Mayes, Dylan Morris, Jayden Burke and Ned Slater.