Flagstaff Hill wins sixth straight SFL premiership on big day of country footy grand final
Dynasties were toppled, threatened and carved even deeper into the history books in a compelling finale to the country footy season. See who won on grand final day.
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Dynasties were toppled, threatened and carved even deeper into the history books in a compelling finale to the country football season on Saturday.
And the triumphs came no bigger than Flagstaff Hill as it extended its dominance of the Southern Football League to win a sixth straight premiership in commanding fashion.
The Falcons equalled an 89-year-old competition record for most consecutive flags with a 62-point grand final triumph over Morphett Vale at Noarlunga.
Flaggies never looked in danger of losing in the 12.8 (80) to 2.6 (18) victory but the same could not be said for their counterparts in other parts of the state hoping to extend dynasties.
Hahndorf – aiming for a fourth Hills flag in a row and sixth in seven years – was pushed to the very end by Uraidla Districts but mustered all its might in the fourth quarter to snatch an eight-point win and another title.
But in the Great Southern, Langhorne Creek’s plan for a premiership four-peat was spoiled by traditional powerhouse Willunga after the Demons won their first grand final since 2009.
There were no such troubles for the phenomenal Flagstaff Hill outfit.
The Falcons held a two-goal lead at quarter time but did not give Morphett Vale a sniff from then onwards, strangling the Emus with nine goals to one in the following three terms.
Mitchell Johnson claimed the JH Warren Medal for best on ground in a super performance alongside Sam Tharaldsen and Matthew Walton.
Veterans Bradley Kirk, David Kearsley and Daniel Butcher (three goals) were also important and have played in all six of the Falcons’ consecutive flags.
Bodie Sowter, Aiden Baker, Daniel Bode and Jack Dal Santo fought hard for the Emus, who could still hold their heads high after an admirable campaign.
Meanwhile at Echunga Oval, triple reigning premier Hahndorf encountered a Uraidla side which would just not go away.
The Demons looked set to end the Magpies’ HFL dominance when they were three points up at the last change before the champions did as champions do, putting in a clutch performance in the final term to prevail 9.12 (66) to 9.4 (58).
Former Adelaide Crow Matthew Jaensch won the best on ground medal for Hahndorf.
Willunga controlled the Great Southern grand final all day to end Langhorne Creek’s dominance of the competition with a 48-point victory.
The turnaround of the day took place at Willaston however.
The Donnybrooks – playing at home in the Barossa, Light & Gawler decider – led 57-0 in the second term only for South Gawler to kick 15 of the last 20 goals of the game and win by six points in an amazing comeback.
The Lions’ 15.5 (95) to 14.5 (89) grand final win broke a 28-year premiership drought for the club.
Willaston, which was searching for its first flag since 1999, will be kicking itself for letting the premiership cup slip right through its hands.
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