Local Footy Wrap: Grand final winners galore across the state
Champions were crowned across the state in local footy with coaching guns helping their teams get to the top. Here is the wrap of all the grand final action from Saturday.
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The penultimate weekend of footy was all about grand finals as clubs around the state chased the ultimate glory.
From country to metro there were plenty of winners and losers.
Here are the talking points from the day.
SANDERSON CLAIMS CROWN
It had to pinch victory from the jaws of defeat – but Balwyn has held on in a heart-stopping Eastern league Premier Division grand final to clinch its first flag in eight years.
The Brenton Sanderson-coached Tigers broke East Ringwood hearts with a 7.11 (53) to 7.9 (51) premiership victory in front of a pulsating crowd at Bayswater Oval on Saturday.
Leading for most of the afternoon – including by 17 points at halftime – Balwyn kicked just two goals after the main break amid a second-half East Ringwood revival.
Closing the gap to just seven points at the final change, East Ringwood – on the hunt for its first top-division flag since 2002 – hit the front for the first time with seven minutes played in the fourth term after Chandler medallist and captain James Belo kicked truly.
Trailing by four points, the Tigers wrestled the lead back through young gun Will La Motte at the 13-minute mark before Jake Sticca delivered the sealer ticking into time-on to extend the margin to nine points.
Balwyn midfielder Bowen Smith worked tirelessly and was awarded the best-afield medal, also finishing with a goal.
THREE-PEAT COMPLETE
Heidelberg is NFNL Division 1 premier again after a 41-point thumping of Montmorency in Saturday’s grand final at Preston City Oval. The 9.19 (73) to 4.8 (32) triumph also completed a clean sweep of the day’s flags after winning the under-19s and reserve grade titles. Box Hill VFL-listed defender Ben De Bolfo was brilliant throughout, taking a host of intercept marks and making a critical goal-saving tackle, to earn the best-on-ground medal. It’s the third premiership hat-trick in Heidelberg’s storied history.
WARRIORS BACK ON TOP
Hoppers Crossing has won its first WFNL Division 1 flag in 20 years. The Warriors prevailed in a one-point thriller against Werribee Districts 13.12 (90) to 14.5 (89). Districts kicked the last three goals to almost steal it. Harry Maguire finished with four goals.
NARRE DEPARTS ON THE HIGH OF A FLAG
Narre Warren has bid farewell to the Outer East league in style, claiming the Premier Division flag after an all-the-way 40-point win over Wandin.
The Magpies, who are moving to Southern league in 2025, fired off 6.1 in the opening quarter to set up victory, 14.10 (94) to 7.12 (54), in the grand final at Officer.
Tom Toner capped a best-on-ground display with four goals, including two in a minute in the last quarter, while ruckman Hayden Dwyer also kicked four goals in a dominant display.
Narre Warren’s victory was redemption after losing to Wandin in last year’s grand final.
The Magpies’ reserves also won the flag, as did their A and C grade netball sides.
BACK-TO-BACK FOR KEILOR
Keilor are the EDFL premiers again. Mick McGuane’s side prevailed by 54 points in a dominant performance against Pascoe Vale at Windy Hill.
OLD CAREY GOING UP IN STYLE
Old Carey are premiers of VAFA Premier C after storming home against Hampton Rovers. It is the club’s first senior men’s premiership since its 2010 triumph when it was in Premier B. Both teams who played in the decider are promoted to the second tier for next season.
OLD SCOTCH WIN THROUGH
Old Scotch has won through to the VAFA Premier men’s grand final on the AFL grand final eve public holiday. The Cardinals booted seven goals to one against St Kevins in the last term to secure their place. Cooper Lean starred with four goals.
BLOODS CLAIM THE CROWN
The Ballarat league is heading down the highway for the third straight year after Melton defeated East Point in the decider by 17 points.
The contest was decided in the second half as the Bloods kicked away to a game-high 29-point lead in the third term.
Despite an East Point comeback, it wasn’t enough, as late steadying goals helped Melton to win.
Liam Carter was the best player on the ground after he kicked six goals.
It is Melton’s second premiership in three years.
DRAGONS MAKE AMENDS
Sandhurst have bounced back after grand final despair last year to beat Gisborne in a thriller in the Bendigo league grand final.
The Dragons claimed their first premiership in eight years with a four-point win, 10.8. (68) to 10.4. (64)
In a close contest in the first half, Sandhurst led by two points before blowing away Gisborne in the premiership quarter.
The Dragons kicked four goals to one to lead by 27 points at the final break.
The Bulldogs fought back in the final term, kicking five goals, and had chances to win late but couldn’t get the decisive goal.
Bulldogs captain Pat McKenna kicked three goals with former VFL player and Dragons midfielder Lachlan Tardrew kicking two.
MAROONS ON TOP
Traralgon has ended Leongatha’s dynasty in the Gippsland league with a 25-point win in the grand final.
The Maroons got on top in the final quarter, kicking four goals to one, to prevail for the first time since 2015.
Daniel McKenna and Harvey Neocleous both kicked three goals for Traralgon.
The loss ends an incredible run for Leongatha.
The Parrots had won four of the previous five grand finals – 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023 – before Saturday’s decider.
STILL TO PLAY FOR
Four grand finals will be battled for today (Sunday) to complete the weekend of action. In the metro league’s the Southern grand final will be held between Cheltenham and Dingley at RSEA Park. Cheltenham are looking for back-to-back titles. In the VAFA, Old Haileybury takes on De La Salle in the Premier B decider at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. In country footy, there are two grand finals with Echuca facing Shepparton in Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley league. In the Ovens and Murray league, Steven Johnson will be looking to end his coaching era at Yarrawonga on a high with the Pigeons to face the Wangaratta Rovers at Lavington.
JOEYS OUT IN STRAIGHT SETS
South Barwon has a chance to get revenge on reigning GFNL premier Leopold after beating St Joseph’s by 30 points at West Oval on Saturday in a preliminary final.
In tricky conditions for scoring, the Swans kicked clear in the last term despite facing a strong breeze to win 9.12 (66) to 4.12 (36).
St Joseph’s, after going 18-0 during the season, lost in successive weeks in finals, as their season came to an end.
Leopold beat South Barwon last year by 50 points in the decider.
CURNOW’S DAY OUT
Former AFL player Ed Curnow has guided Lorne to their 14th premiership in the Colac District league after the Dolphins defeated Irrewarra-Beeac by three goals in the grand final.
The player-coach overcame injuries to take to the field in the grand final and help Lorne win.
It’s his first year at the club after he retired from the AFL last year after 223 games for Carlton.
The Dolphins won the contest in the second quarter, kicking four goals to one behind to open up a 28-point lead at the main break.
The Bombers couldn’t respond in the second half.
It is Lorne’s first premiership since 2019.
BLUES STUNNED BY DEMONS
A first half onslaught by Nyah Nyah West has ended Kerang’s dominance in the Central Murray league.
The Demons won their first premiership since 2001 with a 54-point win over the Blues in the grand final.
The contest was won in the first half as Nyah Nyah West kept Kerang goalless while adding eight goals themselves.
The margin was 49 points at the main break.
The second half was party time as the Demons ended Kerang’s time at the top, which lasted two years.
THE END OF THE ROAD
Congupna has finally ended it’s drought in the Murray league, holding off a fast-finishing Finley to win the premiership by one point.
A third quarter dominance by The Road had the team up by four goals heading into the final break.
Finley then came back and twice had the scores level before Congupna kicked a behind in the 31st minute of the final term to prevail.
It is Congupna’s first premiership since 1993 and first in the Murray league since it joined the competition in 1997.
ROOSTERS GO BACK-TO-BACK
South Warrnambool kicked the only goal in the final term to win the Hampden league grand final over arch-rivals North Warrnambool.
The Roosters went back-to-back, winning by one point, 4.5.(29) to 3.10.(28), to beat a wasteful Eagles outfit.
Down by four points in the final term, in the low scoring match, the Roosters kicked one goal to one behind to win it’s 13th premiership.
Despite having three ex-AFL players, Nathan Vardy, Steven Motlop and Michael Barlow, the Eagles couldn’t prevail.
The team is still chasing it’s first premiership since entering the competition in 1997.
THE RATS STAY ON TOP
Ararat remains the best team in the Wimmera, fighting back in the last term to win back-to-back titles.
The team kicked six goals to three against the Southern Mallee Thunder to win by nine points, 11.11.(77) to 9.14.(68)
Former AFL player Tom Williamson kicked two goals in the contest.
The Thunder, in their first year as a merged entity, almost had the perfect start as a club but fell short.
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