Scotch Old Collegians defeat Seaton to take division three grand final
AS ASHLEY Johnson raised his arm in the air to signal to the Scotch Old Collegians faithful he was OK, a drought-breaking premiership was in the balance for his side.
AS ASHLEY Johnson raised his arm in the air to signal to the Scotch Old Collegians faithful he was OK, a drought-breaking premiership was in the balance for his side.
Johnson, an athletic forward, flew high for a mark in the third quarter of the division three Adelaide Footy League decider on Saturday when he came down heavily on his arm.
The match was stopped for 45 minutes in the third quarter as paramedics attended to the 20-year-old and he was taken away in an ambulance.
He needed urgent surgery to fix breaks in both forearm bones along with a dislocated elbow.
Scotch prevailed in its battle against Seaton Ramblers, winning 12.10 (82) to 7.8 (50). It was the club’s first A-grade premiership since 1997.
Johnson was still dazed and sore in hospital the next day but his teammates made sure he got his medal. “When they walked through the door with the medal, that brought a pretty big smile to my face,” Johnson said.
“I missed the celebrations but had my own little celebration with the green whistle.
“Hopefully I’ll be out of here on Monday to go and have a beer with the boys.”
Scotch coach Kym Cobb said the way his side was able to respond after the stoppage was admirable.
“Ash has been huge for us all year and a real focal point in attack,” Cobb said.
“To see him go down like that was tough for the boys, but I was really proud of the way they handled it. Our indigenous boys really stick together so it would have been particularly tough for them.”
Seaton went into the game as heavy favourites having lost just two games and earning direct entry into the premiership decider with victory in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.
It was a tight tussle early and just one point separated the two sides at half-time.
Scotch’s spread and polished ball use was beginning to overcome the Ramblers’ dogged determination in the third term when Johnson went down, requiring an ambulance.
Scotch bounced out of the break better and a crucial goal to Jono Lagonik gave it a 15-point lead going into the final term.
Scotch then booted the first five goals of the quarter, including one by ruckman Nick Anstey, which lifted the Scotch faithful off their seats when he gathered the ball and bombed it from outside 50.
Peter Rolfe was best-on-ground in a standout performance, Anstey battled manfully in the ruck, Roland Ah Chee provided plenty of class and Zac Radbone put in a gritty performance in defence.
In the SANFL, North Adelaide’s fairytale transformation from wooden-spooner to flag contender continued as it saw off reigning premier Sturt by 58 points to advance to the preliminary final and Norwood booked its spot in the grand final, beating Woodville-West Torrens by 17 points.
And Millicent Football Club broke a 34-year premiership drought. They won the Western Border Football League’s A Grade flag in a four-point thriller against East Gambier on Saturday, giving the club its first A-Grade premiership since 1984.
Club president Craig Tunkin described the win as “absolutely fantastic”.
“(There were) a lot of emotional people (and) the euphoria at the oval after the game, people ran out on to the oval, it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” he said.
“We kicked the first three goals (and) it was just a really good team effort. People stood up when they needed to stand up.”
However, by the last quarter, East Gambier had started to make a comeback.
“We were leading by two or three goals in the last quarter,” Mr Tunkin said.
“We’d get one, they’d get one, and then they’d get two, and they just kept coming.”
But in the end, Millicent won 11.10 (76) to East Gambier’s 11.6 (72).
Millicent’s captain, and Mail Medallist, Tom Hutchesson was named best on ground for the match.
Mr Tunkin said celebrations continued into the early hours of Sunday morning.
“Because it had been so long…it was a really club premiership,” he said.
Grand final results
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE
Division three: Scotch Old Collegians 12.10 (82) defeated Seaton Ramblers 7.8 (50) at Thebarton Oval.
Division four: Glenunga 9.13 (67) defeated Gepps Cross 6.7 (43) at Alberton Oval.
Division five: CBC Old Collegians 20.6 (126) defeated Woodville South 8.8 (56) at Payneham Oval.
Division seven: Marion 13.9 (87) defeated O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale 9.12 (66) at St Mary’s Park.
COUNTRY
Eastern Eyre: Kimba Districts 14.11 (95) defeated Eastern Ranges 4.11 (35) at Port Neill.
Mallee: Border Downs Tintinara 14.17 (101) defeated Karoonda 6.7 (43) at Coonalpyn.
Mid West: Elliston 9.12 (66) defeated West Coast Hawks 8.7 (55) at Wirrulla Oval.
Riverland: Waikerie 11.13 (79) defeated Renmark 3.15 (33) at Renmark.
Western Border: Millicent 11.10 (76) defeated East Gambier 11.6 (72) at McDonald Park.
