They’re through: Dollies, Hawks win classic VFL semi-finals

He knew it was going through.

He knew it would be enough for Frankston.

Even before the ball crossed the line he had his arms extended in triumph, setting off for the supporters lining the fence in the forward pocket at the highway end of Kinetic Stadium.

Lambert’s kick put the Dolphins 11 points up on Casey Demons just after the 30-minute mark of the final quarter of Saturday night’s VFL semi-final.

The siren went 52 seconds later, signalling Frankston’s passage to a preliminary final for the first time in 28 years.

It will travel to Southport next week to fight for a place in its first grand final since the David Rhys-Jones coached team of 1997.

It was a spectacular performance from the Dolphins, who seven days earlier had been split apart by minor premier Footscray.

During the week, it was hard to find anyone willing to tip Frankston. One senior coach thought they’d get “smashed’’ and sink in straight-sets. Apparently the bookies thought there was a greater chance of cows jumping the moon than Frankston defeating Casey.

But in front of a 5000-strong crowd, Jackson Kornberg’s team showed reserves of resolve to go with bursts of brilliance and win 16. 5 (101) to 13. 12 (90).

The Dolphins looked a little shaky when the Demons, running and linking with precision and poise, slipped out to a 12-point lead early in the second quarter.

But, against a Casey team bulging with Melbourne AFL players, Frankston kicked the next four goals to head to half-time 23 points in front.

Twinkle-toed captain Trent Mynott set the mood, kicking two goals and giving another to Corey Ellison.

The Dolphins booted the first three goals of the third quarter too, extending their advantage to 42 points as players like Tom Blamires, Darby Hipwell and Jackson Voss set down their stamp on a big final.

But the Demons chipped away and the suspicion was, with players of the calibre of Riley Bonner, Jack Billings, Mitch Hardie and Jai Culley, they would make a run at Frankston.

They did, silencing the supporters on a packed hill.

In the last quarter Frankston’s lead was cut from 24 points, to 18, to 12 and then to six when Culley steered through his third qoal, almost 18 minutes in.

A point from Demon Paddy Cross made it five points as the Dolphins wobbled.

Blamires nailed a crucial set-shot to make it 11 points, only for Bailey Laurie to answer it. Back to five points and back to a tension that strained minds and muscles.

The Demons couldn’t pinch it, could they? They couldn’t condemn the Dolphins to a shattering loss, could they?

No, they couldn’t. Fifty-gamer Lambert, with his father, Craig, the former AFL star, watching on, swooped on the ball just inside the centre square, took a few steps and kicked from 50m, as straight as an arrow. And then he was off, taking his celebration to the fans, who soon after were jamming the entrance to the change rooms as they strained to hear the song.

Among them was Peter Geddes, the former champion ruckman so instrumental in the Dolphins returning to the VFL after losing their licence in 2017.

Everywhere you looked, Frankston had a player who contributed … four goals each from Mynott and Ellison, the dash of Will Hamill and Tyson Milne, the spearing left-foot kicks of Voss out of defence, the relentless running of Blamires, Hipwell and Lachie Riley, the steadying marks of “Honest Joe’’ Lloyd, the cool decisions of fellow defender Taine Barlow, the relentless tackling of Taj Campbell-Farrell, the run-down tackle of Matt Johnson, the perseverance of big men Harrison Coe and Angus Grant against a star opponent in Tom Campbell, the spectacular mark of Harrison Jones … Tom Murphy, Nick Burke, Ollie Moran, Josh Smith, Tomo Owens, Alec McComb and Kobe Askew did their bit too.

There were no weak links. There could be found no chinks.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day Box Hill Hawks added to their catalogue of classic finals when they flashed home to defeat Brisbane in an enthralling VFL semi-final at the City Oval.

Thirty-three points behind at the final change, the Hawks booted nine goals in the last quarter to triumph by three points.

They needed the last kick of the match to win.

The final siren sounded just as the ball left the boot of Bodie Ryan, who, with the Lions three points in front, marked about 25m out.

Ryan, 20, coolly steered it through to complete a remarkable comeback for the hosts.

The Hawks’ rush of goals with a breeze had put them nine points to the good late in the match, only for the Lions to regain the lead through goals from Henry Smith and Brandon Ryan.

More than 32 minutes had expired but soon after Bodie Ryan answered Brandon Ryan’s goal to give Box Hill Hawks an 18. 7 (115) to 16.16 (112) victory that one observer described as the “miracle at Box Hill City Oval’’.

It set off stirring scenes, with jubilant supporters surrounding the players and coaches on the ground.

The Hawks kicked 9.2 in the final term – after failing to score in the third quarter.

“Wasn’t a bad game of footy, was it?’’ Box Hill coach Zane Littlejohn said.

“Just so proud of our group. They could have packed it up at three-quarter-time. They didn’t. They just found a way.

“What I most loved was how everyone just stuck to their task and played their role. Bodie Ryan kicked the last goal but there was no hero.’’

Young Hawthorn-listed midfielders Henry Hustwaite (35 disposals) and Cameron McKenzie (31) were outstanding contributors and Mitch Lewis booted four goals.

Bodie Ryan kicked two goals and had 19 possessions.

Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney was a formidable presence all over the ground, winning 24 hit-outs and having 20 disposals.

Box Hill Hawks will now play minor premier Footscray in a preliminary final.