St Kevin’s rallies to claim Premier B Section flag
Riding a 19-game winning streak, St Kevins came from 43 points down to defeat Old Melburnians in the grand final to complete a perfect season.
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DOWN by seven goals in the opening half, St Kevins stormed home to win the Premier B grand final on Saturday to complete a perfect season.
St Kevins defeated Old Melburnians by 11 points at Sportscover Arena, bouncing back from a 43-point second-quarter deficit to claim the title.
Skobs looked gone before a dramatic fight back in the second half.
They slammed on eight goals to Old Melburnians’ two in the final two quarters for their 20th straight win of the season, 13.18 (96) to 13.7 (85).
Facing OMs’ substantial lead, St Kevins co-coach Jon Edgar told the players to put it all on the line at half time.
“We told them to take risks and back their ability and we came out of our shell,” Edgar said.
“We wanted to play our brand of footy and stick to what we’ve done all year in terms of the structure and in terms of how we play.
“I didn’t think we could do it but never say never with this group.”
Old Melburnians’ dominant first-half display appeared to have solidified its premiership claim with seven goals to St Kevins’ two, along with clear supremacy in the midfield.
But a change to the Skobs midfield line-up with a switch to strength over speed turned the game on its head.
Bigger bodies on the inside and the speed on the outer in the third quarter paid dividends as St Kevins drilled five goals, reducing the deficit to five points.
In a tussling final term it was Stephen Gilham who proved the difference.
When OMs regained the momentum it was Gilham who steered it back and kicked the crucial last-quarter goals, including the one to put St Kevins in front for the first time.
Gilham’s brilliant last quarter was rewarded with the Ian Corner Medal for the best-on-ground performance.
He finished with three goals.
Nick Wood was vital to the second-half revival with his move from half back to the midfield and provided immediate results.
Nicholas Meehan, Bradley McCann, Dylan Jones and captain Anthony Lynch were also among the best.
William Thompson was OMs best along with Lachie Borthwick, George Hurley-Wellington, Stuart Watson, Edward De Fegely and Nicholas Daish
St Kevins 3.1 5.5 10.12 13.18 (96) d Old Melburnians 4.3 11.4 12.5 13.7 (85)
Goals: S. Gilham 3, S. Salopek, B. McCann, J. Gysberts, K. Williams, P. Edgar, G. Gleeson, Z. Ginies, D. Jones, H. Parkes and K. Wissell
Best: S. Gilham, N. Wood, N. Meehan, B. McCann, D. Jones, A. Lynch
Premiership players: Anthony Lynch, Stephen Gilham, Nick Wood, Nicholas Meehan, Bradley McCann, Dylan Jones, Steven Salopek, Kelvin Williams, Henry Parkes, Gerard Gleeson, Karl Wissell, Jordan Gysberts, Philip Edgar, Zachary Ginies, Callum Matheson, Benjamin Dowd, Matthew Murphy, Conor Ross, James Stewart, William Coates, Jason Salopek, Charles Ring.
Old Haileyburians completed a fairytale finish to win the Premier C premiership, defeating Monash Blues by 48 points on Saturday at Trevor Barker Oval.
Coming from fourth place, the Bloods were underdogs throughout the finals campaign. Haileybury upset Old Ivanhoe, Marcellin and Monash in consecutive weeks in its title run.
Speaking to the players after the game coach Daniel Hughes could not have been prouder of their achievement.
“Today is going to last in my memory and your memory forever,” Hughes said to the players.
“It was absolutely sensational, and I came here today and knew we would play really well and I knew we would be hard to beat.
“At half time we talked about changing the way we play a bit with more effort in the midfield and overall toughness. And you blokes delivered in spades.
“We came from almost nowhere, no one gave us a chance, no one rated us and you guys stood up.’’
Aside from the latter parts of the second quarter, Haileybury controlled the first half but lacked the scoreboard pressure to put Monash away.
Kicking 2.4 in the opening quarter, the eight-point lead became a two-point deficit before James Paul booted the Bloods back in front with the last kick of the half.
A crucial two-goal edge at three-quarter-time put Haileybury in prime position in the final quarter, and the lid blew off with five-goals-to-nil in a celebratory fourth term.
Bloods captain Peter Gleadhill was awarded the Michael Whitten best-on-ground medallion.
Jordan Donnelly excelled as the linkman playing on the wing while inside midfielder Jordan Toy was unstoppable in congestion.
Veterans Adam Weekes and Hamish Mclauchlan came through in tough moments. John Nicolopoulos bagged four goals.
Old Haileyburians 2.4 6.7 8.12 13.18 (96) d Monash Blues 1.2 5.9 6.11 6.12 (48)
Haileybury goals: J. Nicolopoulos 4, N. Waite 2, J. Dawson 2, E. Limon 2, C. Connelly, T. Faulkner, J. Paul. Best: J. Donnelly, A. Weekes, H. McLauchlan, J. Dawson, P. Gleadhill, J. ToyHaileybury’s premiership players: Peter Gleadhill, Jordan Donnelly, Jordan Toy, Adam Weekes, Hamish McLauchlan, John Nicolopoulos, Josh Dawson, Nathan Waite, Ed Limon, Corey Connelly, Tyler Faulkner, Nicholas Harrison, Brett Voss, Lachlan Treverton, Alex Woltering, Tim Witherow, Jack Hayes, Chris Povey, Michael Stowe, Mitchell Rafferty, James Paul, Nick Gooda.
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