A strong mark followed by a goal after the siren by Lion Connor Giddings provided the perfect dramatic conclusion for the GFNL preliminary final on Saturday and propels Leopold into the grand final next week.
The Lions had maintained a scoring advantage over Newtown & Chilwell for most of the day, leading 6.1 (37) to 4.6 (30) at half time and stretching the lead out to 53-40 at three-quarter time.
A last-quarter resurgence saw the Eagles draw level on 55 apiece, and with less than 15 minutes of play remaining Gennaro Bove ran to the 50-metre line and booted a goal to put the Towners six points ahead.
Eagles forward Mick Condy had an excellent opportunity to put his side two goals ahead two minutes later, taking an excellent contested mark and earning himself a set shot from 20 metres out, but could only score a point, leaving the door open for the Lions.
Leopold captain Marcus Thompson was a decisive factor around stoppages from that point on, and made his mark on the scoreboard as well, with his kick from 40 metres bouncing through for a goal to leave the Lions just one point behind with over 25 minutes played.
The game devolved into a series of scrimmages for the next eight or nine minutes, with much of the play in Newtown & Chilwell’s forward half, until a 50-metre penalty to Thomas Gordon gave the Lions a chance to rush forward with only seconds remaining.
Gordon’s kick from the centre square penetrated deep into the Leopold forward arc, where Giddings leapt highest in the pack to mark just before the siren.
Giddings made no mistake from 30 metres to give the Lions the win by 10.7 (67) to 8.14 (62).
The Lions will face St Mary’s, who they beat by four points in the two sides’ only meeting so far this season.
