Noarlunga beats Reynella with winning goal after siren in Southern Football League grand final

A GOAL after the final siren by Waylon Johncock has helped Noarlunga to a fairytale win over Reynella in a dramatic Southern Football League grand final.

NOARLUNGA took the lead just once in Saturday’s Southern Football League grand final against Reynella but held it when it mattered most.

In a fairytale finish, Waylon Johncock kicked a goal after the siren to complete a stunning comeback and propel the Shoes to their first premiership since 2001.

Noarlunga trailed by as much as 38 points in the second term, before storming home to stun the Wineflies 10.7 (67) to 9.9 (63) at Hickinbotham Oval.

It completed a near perfect season for the Shoes who lost just two games on their way to the minor premiership after a large turnover of players in the off-season.

“Everyone’s dream has just come true - the players, supporters, the club, the coaches, wives and girlfriends,” coach Trevor Mitton said.

“We lost a number of players for various reasons (in the off-season) and we were really struggling at the start of the year and didn’t know if we were going to win even three or four games.

“(But) the club has done a great job getting the right people and we have always been a good side but just lacked some leg speed and that came through in spades today.”

Mitton praised the development of the club’s youngsters as Sam Carlyle, and Nicholas and Thomas Mott followed in their fathers’ footsteps by donning the Noarlunga guernsey.

“We respect what their fathers have done and the history they have in the footy club, but (we said) now it’s time to make your own (history),” Mitton said.

“The club is in a good space with a core group of players who are going to carry us forward.”

The Shoes trailed by 37 points at quarter-time and 25 points at the main break.

But Mitton said his side remained confident heading into the second half.

“We knew through the course of the year we had only lost one second half and we had the belief that if we were somewhere close we had the capabilities,” he said.

Johncock inspired the Shoes with four goals, including the game-sealer after the siren.

Thomas Caudle was also pivotal for Noarlunga.

The competition’s leading goalkicker played further up the field as the Shoes isolated speedsters Lindsay Moreen and Henry Kerinaiua in their forward-50.

“That (forward line pace) was the key and we knew that was the advantage we had over Reynella and we rolled the dice,” Mitton said.

Sam Miller, Simon Dean, Matthew Despott and Callam Hudson all played key roles in the win as the Shoes booted seven of the last eight majors in the match.

Departing skipper Shane Comer and Michael Schutz both enjoyed premiership success for the second time at Noarlunga.