Irymple win their third straight premiership in Sunraysia league

Irymple won its third straight premiership at the weekend and despite a rollercoaster year, the Swallows were always confidence of contending. Here’s why.

They say defence wins premierships and for Irymple it was their defensive display in the Sunraysia league grand final which kept its dynasty alive.

The Swallows won their third straight premiership with a 29-point win over Robinvale Euston, 8. 14 (62) to 4. 9 (33).

Despite the Eagles losing just one game all season and being the minor premier, Irymple lifted when it counted to win their 10th senior premiership.

Irymple’s defence was the difference, keeping the Eagles to their lowest score for the season and just two points in the second half.

Led by captain and half-back Zac Wandin, who won one of the medals as one of the best players, he was joined by Justin Robinson and vice-captain Nando Cirillo as key players.

Daniel Coghlan, who won the John Groves Medal as best player on the ground, as judged by umpires, was influential in the middle.

“Across the board it was a credit to the whole team but we knew our backline was pretty strong all year,” Irymple president Andy Charles said.

“(The backline have also been) a driving force out of the backline to counter attack.

“That (the defence) was the difference.

“We were pretty proud of them during the grand final.”

Irymple lost three games in their first 10 rounds before losing just once, to Robinvale Euston in round 13, on its way to the grand final.

“We had a slow start,” Charles conceded.

“We were really inconsistent in efficiency in scoring through our games and some games we would scrape through at times.

“But the last month we built and played some really good football.”

Irymple might have led all day but the contest was close in the first three terms as both teams wasted plenty of chances.

The Swallows led 5.10 (40) to 4.9 (33) at the final change before kicking away in a decisive first 15 minutes of the final term.

Irymple has won the last three Sunraysia league grand finals played with its latest success coming against Robinvale-Euston. Picture: Glenn Milne

Three goals to none secured a third straight title as the Eagles hopes of a first premiership since 2010 faded.

The competition’s leading goalkicker and Eagles forward Isaiah Johnson only kicked one goal in the game with the Eagles missing their second leading goalscorer Ricardo Liparota through suspension.

Charles said the success of the team was down to the culture of the club and the development of their juniors over the past decade who have become successful senior players.

“Our junior development and our core group of the club is local,” he said.

“It’s local grown. We give them an opportunity early, we had about six under-18s who played seniors this year and we started that really early.

“It’s a credit to the junior development, which has been happening over the past 10 years.

“It gives you the depth across all grades.”

This year the club had four teams in grand finals and had the same number next year.

Charles said the team would remain mostly intact for next year but will lose Justin Robinson, who will coach Wandella next year.

“He has been a major influence for us over the past couple of years,” he said.

“He’s one of those key contributors (in defence)

“And we were pretty lucky to get him again this year.”

Tom Brownbridge is expected to coach the club again.

“We’ll be keen for him to go again but we haven’t locked that down,” Charles said.

“It’s pretty close (to happening), in the conversations we’ve had.”