Gordon Football Club breaks longest drought in CHFL history to win flag

Gordon Football Club ends 34 years drought as coach Adam Toohey delivers his boyhood dream – a premiership win. All the reaction here.

Gordon coach Adam Toohey knew his team would win the Central Highlands Football League (CHFL) the night before his team delivered its drought breaking win.

The town of Gordon, about 25km from Ballarat, is celebrating their first premiership win in 34 years in seniors after the team defeated Springbank in the final at Mars Stadium on Saturday by 65 points.

After years of near misses the club reached the summit for the first time since 1988.

This included chances the past two years due to Covid, a 2015 grand final loss and the club almost folding in 2010.

Gordon Eagles celebrate winning the Central Highlands Football League title. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

There were plenty of cheers and a few tears from players, supporters and volunteers at the club as the realisation hit the premiership was returning to the town again.

“To see the happiness on so many people’s faces is unreal,” Gordon coach Adam Toohey said.

“I’ve been pretty good I hadn’t cried all game.

“Then I saw my grandad and I started crying and then I saw my dad and he was crying.

“To have a premiership with him (dad) now is unreal.”

His father Neil was part of the 1988 success, which to this point was the only club triumph in the CHFL after the team joined the competition in 1975.

Gordon’s Adam Toohey (right with headband) celebrates with fellow coach Ron Watt (grey hoodie). Picture Yuri Kouzmin

It won its second premiership with a devastating second quarter, taking advantage of the breeze.

Gordon led at quarter time by one point, nullifying Springbank’s chances with the breeze first up.

The Eagles then soared, kicking six goals to just one behind to lead by 40 points at half time.

Despite a third quarter comeback from Springbank, who kicked three goal to one early, the Eagles steadied to maintained a 33 point lead at the final change.

Gordon Eagles celebrate their premiership win. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Two early final quarter goals to Eagles coach Toohey, who kicked six for the match, put the game out of reach and made Gordon the premiers.

“I sort of felt like it was party time in the final quarter,” Toohey said.

“The crowd, I’ve never played in front of something like that.

“They were singing the theme song and our blokes on the wing were telling them to get up and about.

“It was something I’ll never forget.”

Toohey said the second quarter domination came from learning what Springbank did during the first quarter and executing it better when the team had the breeze.

“We knew kicking against the wind it was going to be tough work and I think we were leading by a point at quarter time, so we were like ‘we’d take that’,” Toohey said.

“We felt they blazed a little bit going forward so we wanted to lower the eyes a little bit and I thought we did that and kept up with our intensity.”

Toohey said the premiership was a dream 27 years in the making for him and validation for where the club was going.

He has been wearing a Gordon jersey, originally with his dad’s number, since he was old enough to wear one.

Toohey said he took on the coaching role to make sure he could go above and beyond to bring the premiership back to the club he loves.

But he knew everything would turn out okay after naming his 22 for the contest.

Gordon Eagles sing the team song after the grand final. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

“I had probably the best night of sleep I’ve ever had before the game,” he said.

“I was pretty calm before the game.

“Going into last night I don’t think there was one guy on that team that I didn’t believe could win us the grand final.

Toohey said this will be remembered for a long time by the club.

“It’s been a long time coming and it means a lot to so many people,” he said.

“To get there and put in the effort like that (was incredible).

“Springbank aren’t a 10 goal worse side than us but it was the way we played as a group and how much it means, it showed out there.”

Surprise for best on ground

It was fitting a Gordon junior and someone who had played at the club for years took out the best on ground medal.

But Gordon midfielder Mick Nolan said there were plenty of others who could have won it.

Mick Nolan (left) fights for the ball for Gordon with Springbank’s Brett Maher. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Nolan claimed the award after kicking one of the sealing goals during the contest, while also getting plenty of the football.

When it needed to be won, he was there.

“I was completely surprised,” he said.

“I was just the lucky one that got hit in the head a few times.

“I wasn’t expecting it and would have been happy if anyone won as long as we won the premiership.”

Nolan said Tye (Murphy), Adam (Toohey) and a few players from the backline deserved to be also in contention for the award.

The midfielder said it was a special win, he’s been a the club since 2012 after playing for the Eagles in juniors.

“I played under-14s and under-15s here and went to North Ballarat,” Nolan said.

“I come back in 2012 and have been here for 10 years since.

“I’ve seen the club on its knees at times and we’ve now gone from on our knees to top of the tree right now.

“It’s sensational and you see how much it means to everyone.”

In other CHFL grade results for the day, Springbank bounced back to claim the reserves and under-18 titles with Buninyong claiming the under-15 title and Skipton winning under-12.