An extraordinary six-goal final-quarter blitz powered Marion to a thrilling 12-point Preliminary Final comeback victory over Hectorville at Campbelltown Memorial Oval. Trailing by 18 points at the final change after Hectorville dominated the middle two quarters, Marion flipped the script in the closing term—outscoring Hectorville 37 to 7 in the final quarter to snatch an 88–76 triumph and earn their place in the Grand Final.
Final Scores
Hectorville | 2.7 (19) | 6.12 (48) | 9.15 (69) | 10.16 (76)
Marion | 4.2 (26) | 5.5 (35) | 7.9 (51) | 13.10 (88)
MATCH SUMMARY
The first quarter saw Marion take an early lead, scoring 4 goals and 2 behinds for a total of 26 points. Hectorville managed 2 goals and 7 behinds, ending the quarter with 19 points. The quarter was competitive, with Marion establishing a 7-point advantage as they capitalised on their scoring opportunities.
In the second quarter, Hectorville made a strong push, adding 4 goals and 5 behinds to their tally, bringing their total to 48 points. However, Marion also increased their score with 1 goal and 3 behinds, resulting in a cumulative score of 35 points. Despite Hectorville's efforts, they could only narrow the gap to 13 points by the half-time break.
The third quarter continued the trend of competitive play, with Hectorville scoring 3 goals and 3 behinds, raising their total to 69 points. Marion responded with 2 goals and 4 behinds, bringing their score to 51 points. The margin remained at 18 points as both teams fought hard, but Hectorville could not fully close the gap.
In the final quarter, Marion surged ahead with a remarkable performance, scoring 6 goals and 1 behind to finish with a total of 88 points. Hectorville added 1 goal and 1 behind, concluding their match at 76 points. Marion's strong finish secured their victory, allowing them to extend their lead and ultimately win by 12 points.
Marion’s magnificent 12-point comeback officially punches their ticket into the Adelaide Footy League Grand Final. Spearheaded by a magnificent best-on-ground five-goal performance from Jaxson Russell and elite midfield leadership from Adam Beaumont, Marion displayed ultimate resolve when the game seemed out of reach at three-quarter time. While Hectorville played brilliant football across the middle quarters led by Matthew Williams and Theodore Hunt, their inability to stem Marion's late avalanche proved heartbreaking at Campbelltown Memorial Oval.
BEST PLAYERS
Hectorville: Matthew Williams, Theodore Hunt, Toby Turner, Anthony Mustaca, Mason Neagle
Marion: Jaxson Russell, Adam Beaumont, Johnathan Mitchell, Liam Bunn, Harrison Stanborough
GOAL SCORERS
Hectorville: Euan Fletcher (2), Mason Neagle (2), Luke Capurso (1), Nathan Richards (1), David Hamann (1), Luke Broadbent (1), Joshua Brooks (1), Toby Turner (1)
Marion: Jaxson Russell (5), Lachlan Edmonds (2), Harrison Westhoff (1), Adam Beaumont (1), Liam Bunn (1), Hudson Elkins (1), Harrison Stanborough (1), Johnathan Mitchell (1)
PLAYED AT
Campbelltown Memorial Oval
By Ethan Parker