Flying Walls: North Ringwood forward Daniel Walls flies for a mark against Glen Waverley Hawks on Saturday. Picture: Sam Stiglec
TOO much time off is better than no time at all.
North Ringwood sealed the early spot in the Eastern Football League division 3 grand final with a 31-point win over Glen Waverley Hawks in the qualifying semi-final on Saturday.
The semi-final win means the Saints will have another week off this week as the Hawks play Boronia in the preliminary final this Saturday.
Saints coach Brett Moyle said dealing with an extra week off was a good problem to have.
"It's good to have got there. Some people will say it's a problem because we have two weeks off out of the last three but that's something we have to deal with. It's much better to have to worry about having the extra week off than be scrapping to make it through the preliminary final."
Moyle praised the work of midfielders like Dwayne Kelly and centre-half back Max Melzer in a tough, contested match. "I thought the work of our midfielders to win the ball in those contested situations was an important part of the game.
"Nothing much gets past Melzer, does it? He was excellent. From the last 10 minutes of the first term onwards I think we got some momentum and started to run the ball which led to our good play in the second term."
After rising from division 4 into the division 3 finals this season, the Hawks faced a tenacious and speedy Saints side and found themselves outmatched for much of the game.
With the lead moving past 40 points in the third term the Hawks summoned some consecutive goals to get within 27 points at the final change. Hawks midfielder Brad Riddle had a running shot at goal in the opening minutes of final term but missed followed shortly by a Saints goal which all but ended the Hawks' chances.
Moyle said he was concerned until the Saints got that first goal in the last term. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. But once we got that goal I thought we would go on with it."
The Saints will play in the grand final on September 15.
Ringwood lost to Boronia by 47 points in the division 3 elimination semi-final on Sunday.