Local footy wrap: Droughts shattered, heroes emerge in grand final epics
Clubs broke premiership droughts while some marked significant milestones. All the talking points from a bumper Saturday across the bush and the ‘burbs.
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Clubs broke premiership droughts while some capped off superb years with deserved silverware.
Here are the major talking points from a bumper Saturday of local footy across the bush and the ‘burbs ...
ROSELLAS BREAKTHROUGH
Cheltenham has shattered its 89-year-drought in remarkable style.
Trailing by as many as three goals in the final term, the Rosellas, who at one stage had kicked 0.10, rattled home four straight to defeat Cranbourne 7.17 (59) to 8.8 (56) in front of over 3500 people at Linton St on Saturday.
Young guns Oliver Moran and Declan McComb etched the Rosellas closer before forward Tom Davis put his side in front with three minutes to go.
The triumph is Cheltenham’s first Division 1 title since 1934 and comes after two successive grand final defeats.
Ryan Jones and Marc Holt were impressive for the Eagles while Moran and Dylan Weickhardt had super final terms.
After winning the league best and fairest, Weickhardt took out the best-on-ground medal.
BULLDOGS SPOIL NARRE’S PARTY
Peaking at precisely the right time, Wandin has thrashed Narre Warren in the Outer East league’s Premier division grand final.
The Bulldogs won by 63 points, 21.15 (141) to 11.12 (78), to deny Narre a third consecutive premiership.
Wandin coach Nick Adam set a grand final expectation before the season and his side exceeded all hopes.
Former Port Adelaide AFL player Joel Garner and ex-Blue and Kangaroo Aaron Mullett fired Wandin’s powerful surge to the flag.
The Wandin win comes after the Magpies won both the under-19s and reserves.
Cody Hirst was best-on-ground.
KEILOR KINGS
Keilor has completed the perfect season after powering to the EDFL Premier Division flag.
The Blues ran out 20.7 (127) to 11.9 (75) victors to end the year on a 20-game winning streak.
Keilor captain Kane Barbuto was awarded the best on ground medal, making it the second time he has won the award.
Nick O’Kearney dominated through the middle with over 40 touches while Matt Clark finished with five goals.
Brad Xavier and Jay White impressed in defence.
For Strathmore, Will Jury was impressive.
DESERVED SILVERWARE FOR SNOWDOGS
St Bernard’s has capped off an undefeated season with a deserved premiership over Fitzroy in the Victorian Ameuter Premier B division.
The Snowdogs won 17 straight games during the home-and-away season before defeating Fitzroy in the second semi-final and then again in the grand final.
St Bernards won 15.13 (103) to 10.1 (61).
In the Premier C competition, Old Ivanhoe has secured victory with a commanding win over Old Camberwell.
Old Ivanhoe won the match 13.19 (97) to 9.8 (62).
TIGER TIME... AGAIN
Heidelberg is back-to-back NFNL Division 1 premier. In perfect conditions at Preston City Oval, the Tigers were a class above, claiming a 22-point victory over Bundoora.
Matt Smith was awarded the best-on-ground medal, while Zane Barzen booted four goals.
It‘s Heidelberg’s 22nd senior premiership, 21st in the top flight, and celebrated the double with victory in the reserves.
A GOLDEN WIN
Golden Square has come from behind to win their first Bendigo league premiership in 10 years, beating Sandhurst by six points.
The Bulldogs trailed by four point at the final change before kicking four goals to two to prevail.
Sandhurst had chances late to win but missed two shots in the final few minutes as the Bulldogs made it 17-in-a-row in the competition.
Bulldogs forward Joel Brett kicked three goals in the final.
Golden Square won 10.11 (71) to 9.11 (65)
MORE COUNTRY FOOTY
Leongatha has completed back-to-back Gippsland league premierships under coach Trent McMicking after blitzing Wonthaggi by 40 points in a lopsided grand final at Morwell.
The Parrots stunned the team they lost to in the second semi-final with the opening four goals of the match to lead by 16 points and were never seriously challenged.
Cam Olden, Tom Marriott and Kim Drew kicked two goals all each with Cade Maskell a dominant player in defence.
Inspired by the return of Port Adelaide star Zak Butters, Darley has completed a miraculous comeback to win the Ballarat league premiership.
Butters, who played for Darley as a junior, returned to the club and led the team in training on Thursday night before cheering on the team as it played North Ballarat at City Oval.
And he was forced to sit through a pulsating contest as the Devils came back in the final term to overcome a gallant Roosters outfit.
North Ballarat got out to a 26-point lead at one stage during the third term before Darley reduced the margin back to eight late in the third term.
The Roosters then led by 15 in the middle part of the final term before three late goals to Darley stole the contest.
Darley forward Billy Myers will forever be etched into Devils history as the player who kicked the winning goal.
Myers, who used to live next door to Butters in Darley, won a free kick 15 metres out for holding the ball and kicked what proved to be the decisive goal.
It’s the Devils’ first premiership in six years.
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Another ex-AFL name on the way to WFNL
A second ex-AFL name has signed for a Western Football League club in the space of less than a week in a move which bolsters a side which reached a grand final just two years ago.