EAST Coast Swans player, Shaun Cannon, was the difference between a preliminary final exit, against Winnaleah on Saturday, and helping his team win through to Saturday's North East Football Union grand final against Branxholm.
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That is the opinion of NEFU president Leon Quilliam.
Mr Quilliam said that Cannon usually played ``up forward or across the centre, on the ball.''
``But on Saturday he started in defence, on Scotty Fenton, and held Scotty to one or two goals - Winnaleah normally get a run in the first quarter and Scotty is a big part of that strategy,'' he said.
``But they didn't get that run on on Saturday, because Shaun held him - after quarter time Shaun went up forward and kicked a couple of crucial goals for East Coast.
``Then his was switched between the centre, where he played on the ball, and up forward - I thought Shaun was a stand-out for the Swans.
``Their coach planned a very strategic game - they blunted Winnaleah's expected early attack and then set about their own attacking strategy.
``Winnaleah's inaccuracy brought about by East Coast pressure cost them dearly, losing despite having one more scoring shot than the Swans.
``Winnaleah also played on a couple of times instead of going back and taking the kick and that brought them undone.''
Final preliminary final results were:
Under-16s, Winnaleah 11.13 (79) def Bridport 1.5 (11)
Reserves, East Coast Swans 11.7 (73) def Winnaleah 7.5 (47)
Seniors, East Coast Swans 12.9 (81) def Winnaleah 9.13 (67)
