The Ararat Eagles claim first ever title as Nullawil win for last time in comp
The Ararat Eagles complete incredible turn around to win their first senior premiership. Full reaction as other premiers were awarded in country Victoria.
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The Ararat Eagles are proof you can get back to the top even if you hit rock bottom in football.
The Eagles won their first ever premiership as a club in seniors, beating Tatyoon in the final of the Mininera and District Football League by 45 points.
The Ararat Eagles led at every change but charged towards the title in a dominant final term, kicking eight goals to two to land the title.
“I think we just broke the straw off the camel’s back,” Ararat Eagles president Nats McRoberts said about the last quarter.
“Something had to give and the cards fell our way.
“I was turning around at the bar and they kicked a goal, I grabbed a beer and they kicked another.
“They played awesome, they played really well.”
The Eagles were formed in 1999 after the merger between St. Mary’s Football Club and Prestige–Trinity Football Club.
The team played in the Horsham and District Football League first before moving to the Lexton Football League in 2000 and finally to the competition the team is in today in 2011.
But no premiership success followed the club and in 2019 the team was in trouble, struggling off the field with finances and on the field with heavy losses.
This included a 509 point loss to Great Western, their darkest day at the club, and a match which gained national headlines.
But from the loss the foundations for Saturday’s premiership started.
“We had a group of kids back in either 2012, 2013 or 2014 win back-to-back for us premiership in under-16,” McRoberts said.
“A handful of them played TAC cup, a few went up to Stawell to play.
“In 2019 when we copped that flogging from Great Western that is when they came back.
“We nearly went into recess in 2019 but with those handful of boys who came back they got a bit of a rapport and got others, who were playing for other clubs, to come back.
“The club worked like crazy to raise funds from barbecues and fundraisers.
“You name how we could raise funds we did it.”
McRoberts said the team had remained pretty much the same since 2020 and the boys involved Jackson Taurau, Zachary Jenkins, Tom Taurau and Naish McRoberts have been influential in getting the team the success.
But it has also been a massive effort from those involved behind the scenes.
“I’m super proud of the club overall,” McRoberts said.
“Collectively we’ve worked hard together to get the highs from the low.
“It’s been a core group of people that have stuck really phat with the club.
“It’s a credit to all those people who have helped.”
Here is a wrap of the other premiers.
GOLDEN RIVERS
Nullawil won the Golden Rivers Football League in what could be their final ever match in the competition.
The best team all season claimed the premiership with a 68 point win over Moulamein.
The Maroons were made to work for it after a strong opening quarter from the Swans who kicked five goals and led by 13 points.
Nullawil responded kicking 14 of the next 16 goals to win comfortably in the end.
It is the team's third straight premiership in the competition after winning in 2018 and 2019.
The team is expected to join the North Central Football League next season.
NORTH CENTRAL
After three straight grand final losses from 2017 to 2019, Birchip Watchem finally got their premiership win.
The Bulls claimed the premiership in the North Central Football League over Donald by 21 points.
It was the sides first premiership win since 2001.
Donald got the jump at the start, leading by two points at quarter time before extending it to 15 at the main break.
Birchip Watchem responded in the second half, kicking four goals in each quarter to overcome the Royal Blues.
Bulls players Dylan Adkins and William Sheahan kicked two goals for the premiers.
Best on ground was Lochlan Sirett from Birchap Watchem.
WARRNAMBOOL DISTRICT
By half time in the Warrnambool and District Football League grand final, Nirranda knew it had its hand firmly on the premiership.
The Blues won their third premiership in six years with an 87 point win over Panmure in the decider.
Nirranda dominated the contest from the start, kicking six goals to one to lead by 32 points at the first break.
It extended to 54 at half time as Nirranda took control.
Dylan Lees and Scott Lenehan kicked three goals for the Blues with Danny Craven named best on ground and winner of the Scotty Stewart Memorial Trophy.
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
Gordon claimed their first premiership in 34 years in the Central Highlands Football League, beating rivals Springbank in the final.
The minor premiers took control of the contest in the second quarter, kicking six goals to zero to lead by 40 points at half time.
Springbank tried to challenge in the second half but it wasn’t enough to deny Gordon.
The team won their first premiership since 1988 with Mick Nolan the best player for Gordon.
You can read more about it here.
HORSHAM DISTRICT
Rupanyup won their first premiership in 21 years in the Horsham District Football League with a nailbiting win over Kalkee.
In a contest which saw the margin at each change be less than a kick, Rupanyup led when it counted to claim the premiership by three points.
Rupanyup’s Jack Musgrove and Brayden Ison kicked three goals each for the premiers with Isaiah Adams doing the same for Kalkee.
The Panthers last won a premiership in 2001 and have now won eight premierships in their history in the competition.
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