Koroit, Harcourt, Melton, Gisborne and others complete premiership dreams

The Saints continue to be the best in the Hampden Football League as Gisborne won for the first time in years. Here is our wrap of the grand finals.

When Gisborne and coach Rob Waters viewed Queen Elizabeth Oval on grand final day it knew then it was in prime position to win the premiership.

Gisborne ended its 16 year premiership drought with a 28 point win over Strathfieldsaye in the decider.

From the first bounce, in wet, muddy and awful conditions, the Doggies got on top and were never headed.

The margin could have been larger if the team didn’t kick five goals and 20 behinds in the contest.

“It was a slog,” Waters said.

“It was all about time in forward half but there were also blokes 20m out in front missing the ball entirely.

“It was a disastrous day in front of goal.”

Waters said despite the conditions being awful for footy, it suited his team right to the ground.

Gisborne's Liam Rodgers tries to get rid of the ball in the grand final. Picture: SAA Imaging.

And the team had been preparing for it all week.

“Gisborne has been a wet ground all season, so we trained accordingly and the boys lapped it up (training),” Waters said.

“When we watched our thirds (play), we knew it was going to be our day.

“Knowing it was going to be wet all week, we got used to the conditions.

“Strathfieldsaye their game is a lot of uncontested footy and uncontested marks.

“We just needed to force the ball on to the ground.”

Waters said there were nervous moment during the contest as their inaccuracy allowed the Storm to stay in the contest.

“That was the challenge to the boys half time, kicking behinds gives them the chance to kick the ball in and back to their structure.

“It gives them a free hit at the footy.

“One goal against the flow could bring them back into it, that was my concern.”

But he didn’t have to stress too much in the end.

“I was in the game until a minute to go and I said man up,” he said.

“I was unaware there was a minute to go and a couple of boys were celebrating.

“My right hand man said ‘it’s one minute to go, we can’t lose this from here’.

“The pressure valve went down.”

Waters said the midfield excelled and their ruckman Braidon Blake was exceptional in giving the team first use of the ball.

Blake was named as the best player for the contest.

Gisborne’s win wasn’t the only grand final this weekend, here are the others.

BALLARAT

Melton claimed it’s first Ballarat Football Netball League premiership since 2005, beating Sebastopol by five points in a thrilling grand final at Mars Stadium.

The Bloods held off a late challenge from the Burras to claim the title.

Melton kicked away to a three-goal lead in the first half of the contest before Sebastopol fought back to level the scores during the third term.

Sebastopol’s James Keeble kicked two goals, both off the ground, to keep the Burras in the hunt.

Keeble had a chance late in the match to win the match, with Melton up, but opted to pass instead of shoot for goal from 45 metres out.

Melton intercepted the ball and held on.

Melton’s Blake Souter was named as the Ballarat Football Netball League’s best player on the ground with Melton midfielder Jack Taylor winning the AFL Victoria medal for best on ground.

You can read more on the grand final

here.

.

Melton players celebrate their premiership win. Picture: Shane Jones.

HAMPDEN

It was seventh heaven for Koroit as its dynasty continued in the Hampden Football League.

The Saints claimed their seventh straight premiership with a 16 point win over North Warrnambool.

The result could have been much larger had the team not been so inaccurate in front of goal.

Koroit led by eight points at quarter time before adding nine behinds in the second term.

It was enough to outscore North Warrnambool, who kicked one goal and one behind, but the margin only extended to 10, instead of what could have been more.

Despite an Eagles comeback in the last term, Koroit did enough to hold on and win again.

The team now has premierships in every season since 2014.

Koroit forward Sam Dobson kicked two goals and was the only player on the ground to kick more than one goal.

He was awarded one of the best player on the ground medals with Dylan McCutcheon winning the other.

Koroit almost completed the perfect season, losing just once this year on their way to the title.

Koroit celebrate winning their seventh straight grand final. Picture: Koroit Football Club.

ELLINBANK

A late behind to Neerim South player Nathan Bayne sealed the team its first Ellinbank District Football League title since 1999.

The Cats came back from a 13 point deficit at three quarter time against Buln Buln to win the match and hit the front at the right time.

The team was behind in each quarter, except for the last.

Bayne’s behind came with five minutes left to play as the Cats held on with their defensive pressure and clearance work.

The minor premiers almost had a perfect season, with no losses, but Buln Buln won their first meeting in the finals to end the run.

Kody Wilson and Luke Kinder kicked two goals for the Cats with Cats midfielder Chris Urie named as the best on ground in the contest.

MARYBOROUGH & CASTLEMAINE

Harcourt won its first premiership since 2007, beating a determined Carisbrook outfit by eight points in the decider.

The Lions held off a fast finishing Redbacks team after leading by 18 points at three quarter time.

Rain during the last quarter and a late goal from Lions player Sam Kerr, who kicked two goals during the game, sealed the premiership.

Their third quarter dominance, which saw the Lions kick three goals to none, came after Carisbrook led at half time by one point.

Brayden Frost and Thomas Walters for Harcourt won the best players on the ground awards for the day.

The clash though was marred by an incident during the game involving one of the Carisbrook players.

You can read about it here.

KYABRAM

Lancaster won their first premiership in 11 years defeating Murchison-Toolamba 6.10 (46) to 5.6 (36).

Despite kicking just one goal after half time the Wombats led at every change to hold off the Grasshoppers.

Lancaster won the premiership after finishing third at the end of the home-and-away season.

They lost to the Grasshoppers in the first final, by 27 points, before beating Nagambie and Stanhope to get their chance again against Murchison-Toolamba in the decider.

It is their eighth premiership in the competition.

Lancaster’s Cameron Simpson was the best player on the ground for the match.

The match was also marred by an incident after the game.

You can read about it here.