Grand finals wins headlines Local Footy Wrap on Saturday
Finals accelerated in local footy with plenty of grand final winners as elsewhere there were stunning results as teams looked to qualify for the decider. Here are the talking points from Saturday’s football.
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The first full weekend of Spring is here and so is grand final fever across the state.
There were winners, unfortunately there were also losers, plus there was plenty of other talking points from another dramatic day.
Here are the best parts of the afternoon.
MONKEY OFF DOLPHINS BACK
While there will be plenty of celebration for the Frankston Dolphins there might also be plenty of relief as the club finally celebrated premiership success after a dominant couple of seasons.
The Dolphins have been the best team in Southern for the past three years, in Division 4 in 2022 and Division 3 in 2023 and 2024, but on grand final day last year and in 2022 it fell short at the final hurdle.
But this year was a different story with the team running out 35-point winners over South Mornington in the Division 3 final at Hampton Park.
The contest was decided in the second half with the Dolphins keeping the Tigers goalless and kicking six goals themselves to overcome a half time deficit.
The win will now see the Dolphins move to Division 2, their second promotion in three years.
BACK-TO-BACK FOR SURREY PARK
The Panthers have rattled home from a 16-point deficit 15 minutes into the final quarter to break Donvale hearts with a 12.12 (84) to 12.10 (82) Eastern league Division 3 grand final victory on Saturday.
Surrey Park – which won its first Eastern league premiership last year in Division 4 and was promoted to Division 3 this year – was on its knees as a club little over a decade ago, weathering a 67-game losing streak from 2008-13, collecting five consecutive wooden spoons.
But it had little trouble in its move up a flight this year, finishing the home-and-away season in second with a 15-3 record on the way to denying Donvale a second-straight Division 3 crown.
Surrey Park young gun Tom Smith was awarded the best-afield medal, Tadan Vitacca finished with three goals, while boom mid-season recruit Jack Mahon kicked the winner 21 minutes into the final term after the Panthers had trailed virtually all day.
Meanwhile, Balwyn is through to the Eastern league Premier Division grand final after edging minor premier East Ringwood 8.5 (53) to 7.8 (50), and Park Orchards will meet Mitcham in the Division 1 decider next weekend after a 12.3 (75) to 9.13 (67) win over Beaconsfield.
EAGLES FLY TO FLAG
Edithvale-Aspendale has claimed the Mornington Peninsula Division 2 premiership after a gripping triumph over Chelsea at a packed Frankston Park. The Eagles played the majority of the last quarter two short after Ty Vickery and Ishak Bashir were reported and sent off within a minute of each other. But the Eagles dug deep, with Colby Nayna and best-on-ground Kurt Lopo kicking goals, to prevail, 11.15 (81) to 11.11 (77), capping a brilliant season in which they won 19 games in a row to take the flag. Edi-Asp player-coach Kris Pendlebury and captain Nick Carlon were inspirational in the backline in the last quarter as Chelsea surged.
LIONS WIN FIRST MEN’S EDFL FLAG
Taylors Lakes has claimed the first senior men’s premiership of the year after getting the best of Westmeadows by 18 points in the EDFL Division 2 decider. Both sides kicked inaccurately in the second half with the Lions getting on top in the final quarter, kicking two goals to none to win the contest. It’s their first premiership since 2010.
DROUGHT OVER FOR WHITE HILLS
White Hills claimed their first premiership in 36 years with a crushing 71-point win over Leitchville Gunbower in the Heathcote District league premiership decider.
The contest was over at half time with the Demons kicking nine goals to two to open up a 46-point lead at the main break.
Demons vice-captain Liam Bartels had a day out kicking eight goals with their coach Kaiden Antonowicz adding two.
The last premiership for the club came in 1988.
TIGERS RUN RIOT
Torquay are the kings of the Bellarine again. The Tigers produced a 10-goal third term to blow Anglesea out of the water in the decider on Saturday afternoon. They eventually ran out 62-point winners with Chase Loftus, Charlie Ham, Baxter Mensch, Jesse Dawson, Ben McNamara and Clay Page all named among the best.
A HISTORIC ENTRY
In its first season in the Northern league, Old Paradians is celebrating a historic Division 3 premiership. In a free-scoring, end-to-end thriller, the Raiders held their nerve in the last quarter to claim a 15-point win over Fitzroy Stars and earn promotion. Lachie Kerr’s four goals won him the grand final medal for best-on-ground, while superstar ruckman Sam Gilmore was colossal all day. In a repeat of his semi-final heroics, Patrick Farrant kicked eight goals but the Stars wasted a fourth quarter with the wind, losing despite having five more scoring shots, 17.8 (110) to 13.17 (95).
THREE-PEAT FOR WAAIA
Waaia continues to be the best team in the Picola league, storming to a third straight title in the competition with a 44-point win over Katandra in the grand final.
A six-goal burst before and after half time was the difference as the team ran away with the win.
Waaia midfielder Jesse Trower won the best on ground medal with 40 disposals and 20 marks with Bombers forward Bill Brown kicking three goals.
STEVIE J ON TRACK IN SWAN SONG
Yarrawonga is one win away from giving coach Steven Johnson the perfect send-off as Pigeons coach.
The Ovens and Murray side smashed Wangaratta Rovers in the qualifying final on Saturday, winning by 71 points.
Yarrawonga were on song early kicking seven goals to zero in the first half before extending the margin in the final two terms.
Six Pigeons players kicked two or more goals in the demolition.
The side will now play off in the grand final in two weeks time.
CREEKERS BLITZ
A result so stunning we had to refresh the page three times to make sure there wasn’t a mistake. Diamond Creek is into the Northern Division 2 grand final after a dominant 93-point victory over Whittlesea. It’s a shock end for the Eagles, which only lost one game in the home-and-away season before crashing out in straight sets. Tom Baird, Andrew Elward and Jett Mclaughlan all kicked three goals in the 18.14 (122) to 3.11 (29) victory at Epping Reserve. The Creekers return to Preston City Oval for the second season in a row and look to turn the tables on South Morang after a six-point defeat in the qualifying final.
PIES THROUGH
Wallan has won through to the Riddell District league grand final after overcoming Macedon by 27 points at Kyneton Showgrounds. The game was a tight tussle with scores locked at 3.4 (22) apiece at halftime. Wallan was able to break away in the last after holding its opponents scoreless.
DISTRICTS EARN RIGHT FOR PREMIERSHIP DEFENCE
Werribee Districts will defend its WFNL Division 1 premiership after reaching the decider. Chris Gilham’s side recorded a seven-point win in Saturday’s second semi-final despite kicking just two points in the final quarter. Lachlan Rainbow impressed with three goals.
PANTHERS POUNCE INTO GRAND FINAL
Leigh Tudor has Pascoe Vale peaking at the right time. The Panthers produced what many might have considered an upset after beating Mick McGuane’s Keilor by 34 points in Saturday’s preliminary final. Ex-AFL forward Ahmed Saad impressed in front of goal with three.
OLD CAREY INTO THE DECIDER
Old Carey will have a shot at VAFA Premier C glory after getting the better of Hampton Rovers in the second semi-final. The Panthers came away with a 19-point win to book their place in the decider and also guarantee promotion to the competition’s second tier.
GET THE CALCULATORS OUT
The VAFA Premier Division season had a wild finish. Collegians overturned a 16-point deficit at the final change to secure its place in the top-four while Old Scotch was denied a double chance after going down to Old Xavs who eventually finished fifth.
Old Melburnians beat St Bernard’s by one-point and the Snowdogs survived relegation on percentage.
Fitzroy was the team who gave up a late lead to Collegians and it ended up costing the club its place in the top tier.
ROOS GET ON TOP
A point in the dying moments of the contest has seen Ultima stun Hay in the Golden Rivers league grand final.
In a repeat of last year’s decider, which Hay won, this year the Roos got the ultimate revenge by winning by one point at Hay’s home ground, which hosted the decider.
Hay looked likely to go back-to-back after gaining the lead at the final break and holding a five-point lead in the closing stages of the match.
But Ultima would kick a late goal to take a one-point lead.
Hay would then kick a behind to level the scores only for the Roos to score again, a behind, to claim the premiership.
It is the first premiership for Ultima since 2015 with Roos midfielder Thomas Bull winning the best on ground medal.
FIRST TITLE FOR BOMBERS
There will be lots of celebrations in the towns of Boisdale and Briagolong after the Bombers won their first ever premiership in the East Gippsland league.
Boisdale Briagolong claimed the title with a 32-point win over Lucknow in the grand final.
The Bombers won the final three quarters of the contest, overcoming a seven-point deficit in the first term, to win the match.
Thomas Jolly kicked four goals to not only help the Bombers to win the match but claim the best on ground medal.
The premiership is the first for the club since it moved to the competition in 2015.
The last premiership for the merged club came in 2001 when it was part of the Riviera league.
DOLPHINS WINS FROM THE CLOUDS
Lorne has kicked six goals in the final term to beat Alvie and qualify for the Colac District grand final.
Down by 23 points in the final term the Dolphins were able to stun last year’s premiers to become the first team to book a spot in this year’s decider.
Lorne’s Jackson Bright kicked three goals with James Hughes kicking two, which both came in the final term.
The win now allows coach Ed Curnow to continue his recovery to hopefully play in the decider.
Injury has hampered the former AFL player in the finals series with Curnow missing both finals matches after playing 15 games during the season.
EAGLES ROCK HAMPDEN
Three ex-AFL players have helped North Warrnambool progress to the grand final of the Hampden league with an 11-point win over South Warrnambool.
Michael Barlow, Steven Motlop and Nathan Vardy, who coaches the team, each kicked a goal as the Eagles beat the Roosters.
North Warrnambool dominated the contest for the first three quarters, opening up a 25-point lead at half time before extending it to 29 at the final break.
South Warrnambool responded in the final term but it wasn’t enough to stop the Eagles from progressing.
BLUES ON TOP AGAIN
Nirranda won its third straight Warrnambool District league premiership with a three-point win over Merrivale.
In a tight contest all game the Blues were able to use their experience of previous grand final wins to prevail.
Ben Dobson kicked three goals for the Blues in the win.
Nirranda has now won four of the past five premierships in the competition.
DARRAS WIN SOUTH WEST
Tyrendarra won their first title since 2016 in seniors with a nine-point win over Dartmoor in the South West District final.
Despite being kept scoreless in the final term, the Darras did enough in the first three quarter to overcome the Giants.
Alex Baker and Jordi Withers kicked two goals for Tyrendarra in the win.
The Darras have now won 10 premierships in the competition, which is the most in South West since the league formed in 1970.
WE STUCK IT UP THEM
Every Victorian should be proud of the Murrayville Football Club on Saturday night.
The Blues, who compete in South Australia’s Murray Valley Football Netball League, claimed the premiership with an 82-point win over Browns-Well in the final.
The Victorian team have claimed the premiership interstate and taken it back.
Blues player Nathan Wright-Bramfit kicked seven goals in the win.
This is Murrayville's first premiership in the competition since the club joined last year.
The last premiership for the Blues came in 2005 in the Mallee Football League.
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