The moment and Brodie Holland address which won Maribyrnong Park EDFL flag

Maribyrnong Park bounced back to the EDFL top tier as coach Brodie Holland reveals why he always had confidence and the moment which turned the grand final. Plus, go inside the huddle at the last break.

Brodie Holland felt the platform for success was already there when he returned to Maribyrnong Park.

The Lions had just been relegated from the EDFL’s top tier and managed to retain a large part of its playing list from the 2023 season.

Back for a second stint, Holland was determined for an immediate bounce-back to Premier Division.

It’s a goal which was ticked off on Saturday afternoon after Holland’s side secured the Division 1 premiership after a convincing win against West Coburg.

“I knew straight away, I could feel if we brought in some good players like (Lachie) Plowman and (James) Kayrooz and a couple of others,” he said

“The group was already here, they were a bunch of highly motivating and committed individuals.

“We were just a bit young. The experience of playing Premier last year and then coming back a year better, and adding some experienced and harder bodies around them, they’ve just really taken off.

“They wanted to learn and get better from the get go.

Bronte Campbell kicks a goal. Picture: Andrew Batsch

“I’ve been at clubs before where there’s always four or five blokes that just want to do their own thing and train their own way, and really there was no one in that basket.”

Maribyrnong Park ran away with the contest in the last quarter with nine goals to two but the tension of the game was broken late in the third.

The Lions had rushed the ball forward and when the ball bounced on the half forward flank, the experienced Tom Wyatt edged his West Coburg opponent under the ball. He kept his feet, the Burgers defender didn’t.

A man with a strong resume with Poowong in Gippsland, steadied, took a couple of bounces and ran into goal despite some late pressure.

It felt the premiership was heading to the Lions as the goal dribbled through as West Coburg kicked 0.6 for the quarter with the wind.

“Although the game was still in the balance at that stage because we didn’t have enough of a gap, it felt like a bit of a heartbreaker,” Holland said.

“That’s what it felt like from the sidelines. We felt like we had the energy, the spirit and the fitness, just a bit fresher at the right time.

“We’ve done a lot of work to get these boys in good condition and it paid off at the end.”

Max Griffin. Picture: Andrew Batsch

The premiership marked the third flag Holland has now won with Maribyrnong Park, after lifting the cup in his first stint in 2009 and 2010.

“A lot is the same, a lot is so much different,” Holland said.

“Obviously the player personnel is different, the committee has been reshuffled.

“One thing that remains is it’s a club with good culture, with good people and that’s why I came back for that reason.

“That’s why my kids still play junior footy here. I still feel like I’m part of the furniture.”

James Kayrooz was awarded the best on ground medal.