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Roos finish full of running to upstage Diorites but key forward suffers injury

Neale HarveyKalgoorlie Miner
Kalgoorlie’s Ricky Whitehead is helped off the field during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final.
Camera IconKalgoorlie’s Ricky Whitehead is helped off the field during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner

Kalgoorlie forward Ricky Whitehead’s seven-goal masterclass that powered Saturday’s preliminary final victory against Mines Rovers by 12 points, 14.9 (93) to 12.9 (81), was marred by an injury that could threaten his availability for this weekend’s Goldfields Football League grand final.

Whitehead and Mines Rovers spearhead Jordan Strahan between them accounted for 13 of the game’s 26 goals in an impressive display of forward craft at opposite ends of the ground.

Kalgoorlie’s Ryan Macdonald and Max Sutch-Taylor celebrate their win during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final.
Camera IconKalgoorlie’s Ryan Macdonald and Max Sutch-Taylor celebrate their win during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner

But for the second consecutive match, Kalgoorlie finished the fitter and stronger team that yielded four last-quarter goals and booked them a spot in this Saturday’s premiership decider against Railways from fourth place.

The downside was Whitehead’s exit early in the last term.

“I’ve spoken to him this (Sunday) morning and he said he’s pulled up pretty sore,” Kalgoorlie coach Rick Butterfield said.

“But we’ll obviously be doing everything we can to get him out there — especially after a performance like that.

“We’re not too sure if it’s an Achilles or calf (injury), but you want him in there week-in and week-out because he does that sort of (mercurial) stuff.”

Kalgoorlie’s Ricky Whitehead celebrates a goal during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final.
Camera IconKalgoorlie’s Ricky Whitehead celebrates a goal during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner

After leading by a point at the final change, Kalgoorlie extended the advantage just 52 seconds into the last quarter with Dylan Clarke’s team-lifting goal.

When the Roos also won the next clearance, Whitehead marked well inside the 50m arc but he was denied a chance to post an eighth goal when he was unable to take his kick.

That responsibility went to Ryan Macdonald, who kicked accurately, while Jack Martin’s sublime crumbing produced another goal after just six minutes.

But there were more twists to come — initially with Mines Rovers’ Jake Douglas’ clever snap that cut the margin to 13 points.

Kodee Lowe then dashed forward to kick an important goal and Sam Turner’s near-miss made it a six-point margin.

Mines Rovers’ Logan Hughes during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final.
Camera IconMines Rovers’ Logan Hughes during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner

Kalgoorlie’s next forward sortie yielded a handy behind, but the resultant kick-in ended with Logan Hughes cruising along the outer wing and unloading a kick from long-range that bounced through a vacant goal square.

It brought the Diorites’ supporters to their feet, but the original decision, a goal, was reversed and the margin was again six points, with three minutes left.

It is understood one of the field umpires behind the play ruled Hughes’ kick had hit the post.

There was still time for Mines Rovers, but Ty Clark iced the result for Kalgoorlie a minute later with the last goal of the game.

Mines Rovers coach Marc Johnstone congratulates Kalgoorlie coach Rick Butterfield during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final.
Camera IconMines Rovers coach Marc Johnstone congratulates Kalgoorlie coach Rick Butterfield during the 2024 Goldfields Football League preliminary final. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner

It was another stunning performance by Kalgoorlie, who finished fourth with seven wins — four games and percentage adrift of the second-placed Diorites, but they have now bucked the odds in back-to-back finals appearances.

Daniel Ashwin hurt his knee on the final siren and was carried off, but Butterfield hoped he would play in the grand final.

“It’s hard to tell at the moment, but everyone else has pulled up very well, are up-and-about and keen to continue riding this wave,” Butterfield said.

Mines Rovers coach Marc Johnstone said his group had pulled up short of expectations.

“We had a plan in place four years ago to blood the kids, bring them through and this (season 2024) was the end of the plan,” Johnstone said.

“It didn’t pan out how we wanted it to and it’s disappointing.

“Losing to the fourth-placed team and going out in straight sets — I know it happens, but it does hurt a little bit.

“It was pretty painful last (Saturday) night, that’s for sure.”

In a classic arm wrestle, Mines Rovers trailed at every change by margins of six points, three points and one point before being outscored in the last term, four goals to two.

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