St Peter’s beats Brighton by 43 points to take out division two Adelaide Footy League title
ST PETER’S Old Collegians topped off an outstanding season to beat Brighton by 43 points in the division two Adelaide Footy League grand final at Thebarton Oval on Saturday.
ST PETER’S Old Collegians topped off an outstanding season to beat Brighton by 43 points in the division two Adelaide Footy League grand final at Thebarton Oval on Saturday.
The Saints applied relentless pressure from start to finish to complete an unbeaten season and win their first flag since taking out the division one title in 2012.
Jesse O’Brien, a former Brisbane and North Adelaide player, won the best on ground medal.
O’Brien said it was a thrill to be a part of the Saints’ victory.
“It was unbelievable,” O’Brien said. “To win the game that counts has ended an amazing and remarkable season.
“There was a real bond among the players and everyone is excited to be back in division one.”
The game was a dour contest early with the Bombers wasting chances with the wind to lead 2.1 to 1.4 at quarter time. The second quarter was tight and close but the Saints broke it open with two late goals to grab a 4.7 to 2.2 buffer at half-time.
Brighton enjoyed its best passages of play in the third quarter to trail 6.11 to 5.5 at the last change and looking some chance despite kicking into the wind in the last quarter.
But when Thomas Fotheringham goaled 16 minutes into the last quarter SPOC’s lead was 23 points and the floodgates were about to open up.
SPOC completely blanketed Brighton’s well-known running game, keeping the Bombers to just one point in the last quarter to SPOC’s 5.2.
SPOC coach Chris Hall said the win had been just reward for the players and the club.
“Our goal from the start of the season was to get back into division one and then to play our way,” Hall said.
“The weather made it tricky but we executed so well. We had top players everywhere but our back six were great. We wanted to make a difference and we did. To go through unbeaten was terrific.”
Brighton coach Joel Tucker said SPOC was too strong but he was proud of his players.
“We just didn’t make our time with the ball count, while they did,” Tucker said.
“I’m disappointed we lost and the margin probably blew out a bit in the end but we weren’t as clean as they were.
“We will look forward to next year in division one.”
The Saints were never challenged in the minor round, winning by an average of 42 points with Brighton getting the closest by 12 points in round seven.
Sacred Heart Old Collegians showed its class by accounting for Unley Mercedes Jets in the division two reserves grand final, 10.10 (70) to 3.7 (25), while Old Ignatians beat St Peter’s OC in the C2 final, 6.10 (46) to 4.3 (27).
Division One
Meanwhile, Rostrevor Old Collegians will take on Tea Tree Gully in the division one grand final next Saturday for the second successive year after beating Payneham Norwood Union in the preliminary final at Daly Oval.
ROC won 15.13 (103) to 6.11 (47) after kicking nine goals in the third quarter.