Darley claims the Ballarat league premiership

A country footy team has claimed the premiership after a controversial late free kick that turned into the match winning goal. But was the right decision made? See the vision and vote in our poll.

Inspired by the return of Port Adelaide star and former Darley junior Zak Butters, the Devils have completed a miraculous comeback to win the Ballarat league premiership.

And it was a former neighbour of Butters who is the toast of the club.

Darley won their first premiership in six years in the competition, coming back from 15 points down in the middle of the final term to win by one-point, 11.5 (71) to 10. 10 (70).

Devils forward Billy Myers will forever be etched into history as the player who kicked the winning goal.

A tackle late from Myers in their forward 50 gave him a free kick, 15 metres out, which he kicked to give the Devils a one-point lead.

Billy Myers of Darley celebrates victory at City Oval. Picture: Hamish Blair

The final siren would go a few seconds later, which sent Darley fans and players into celebration.

Among them was Butters, who sprinted to the middle of the ground to celebrate with his mates, after riding the emotions at the top of one of the interchange benches during the contest.

He came back to the club this week, offering them support, as well as training with the team on Thursday ahead of the clash, after his AFL club Port Adelaide were knocked out of the finals.

AFL player Zak Butters watches the Ballarat league grand final with Darley coach Dan Jordon. Picture: Hamish Blair

AFL player Zak Butters celebrates a premiership win with Darley. Picture: Hamish Blair

For most of the contest it looked like his help would not land premiership success.

North Ballarat dominated the contest for the first three-and-a-half quarters.

The Roosters kicked the first two goals of the game and were able to stifle Darley’s run through plenty of pressure, creating rare mistakes from the Devils.

The team were able to win the contest in the middle, through clearances, as well as winning the contest overhead with marks and dominate inside 50s.

It led to the Roosters leading by 26 points at one stage in the third term and looking likely to win their first premiership since 2014.

But Darley did not give up.

The Devils first came back in the third term, kicking three goals to reduce the margin to eight, before making one late charge in the final term to prevail.

Darley celebrate winning the Ballarat league premiership with a one-point win over North Ballarat. Picture: Hamish Blair

Myers goal not only won the game but won him the AFL Victoria best player on the ground.

“I’m super proud of the boys,” Myers said.

“To come back from this moment to try to get premiership success, I’m super proud of the team we’ve got.

“(The goal) it’s just a moment in time, one kick doesn’t win a premiership, we have a squad of 40 to 50 blokes who have put their head over the ball ever week.

“We’re just lucky to end up on the right end of the scoreboard.

“It was nice to kick the winning goal but it would have been nice too to have the game won at three-quarter-time.

“Commiserations to North they were good today.”

Darley coach Dan Jordan conceded the premiership should have gone to their rivals but his boys found a way.

“I’m not sure (how we won) to be honest,” he said.

“We couldn’t find any space and their pressure was unbelievable all day.

“There is a resilience about this group and they refuse to give up.

“We shouldn’t have won the game but they just hung around, hung around, and won some big moments in the last seven to eight minutes.”

The premiership completes a remarkable transformation at the club, going from wooden spooners in 2021 to premiers two years later.

Jordan said it was a credit to the Darley players for bouncing back and admitted there was some motivation to do this after falling short last year, losing in the semi-final to Ballarat.

“The guys hadn’t been taught probably how to play footy (when I came in) even though they were yearning for it and were thirsty for it and drank everything I said,” he said.

“They motivate themselves, it’s my job to steer them and fix up a few things where they can get the three to four per cent edge,” he said.

“They are a strong group.”

For North Ballarat it was a tough way to end their year, which was their best for eight seasons.

Riley Polkinghorne was the best player on the ground for the Roosters and won the Roy Edwards Memorial Trophy.

In a positive for the club their netball team won the A-grade and B-grade premierships over Darley.

For the A-grade team it was their second straight title after also beating the Devils last year.