Local footy wrap: Rowville wins first top division flag as Fish Creek lifts 37th cup
Clubs broke premiership droughts while some marked significant flag milestones – one even lifted a 37th cup. All the talking points from a bumper Saturday across the bush and the ‘burbs.
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Clubs broke premiership droughts while some marked significant flag milestones – one even lifted a 37th cup.
Here are the major talking points from a bumper Saturday of local footy across the bush and the ‘burbs ...
ROWVILLE’S REDEMPTION
Rowville has claimed its first-ever top-flight premiership, edging Vermont by 10 points in Saturday’s Eastern league Premier Division grand final.
In a tough, contested battle at Bayswater Oval, the 9.12 (66) to 8.8 (56) victory came as the Hawks led at all changes, pulling away by 15 points at the final change.
Rowville defender Jesse Eickhoff was awarded the Cliff Tomkins-Blue Ribbon Medal as best afield for his job on Vermont livewire forward Adrian Kalcovski.
Lachlan McDonald and Maverick Taylor kicked two goals each for the Hawks, while Daniel Neilson finished with three for Vermont.
It’s redemption for Rowville, which lost last year’s decider after finishing on top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season.
The club competed in Division 4 just 20 years ago, before flags in 2003, ‘04 and 2012 sent it into the league’s top tier.
HAWKS HOIST FLAG IN FIRST SEASON
Heatherhill has capped a fairytale inaugural season with a premiership.
The Hawks beat Highett by 17 points in the Southern league’s third division grand final on Saturday, 8.6 (54) to 5.7 (37), at Mordialloc.
Aidan Lenehan was named best-on-ground while David Mullavey, Jake Rigby and Ben Housden kicked two goals each.
Hawks coach Lachlan Avery slotted an important goal in the third quarter.
Heatherhill started up in January and was based out of Bruce Park, Frankston.
The Hawks lost their first game but were unbeaten since, winning 18 games in a row.
FISH CREEK FIRES AGAIN
The small South Gippsland town of Fish Creek was celebrating a premiership last night.
Again.
“Fishy’’ won their 37th senior premiership - a record in Victorian country football – when they upset Newborough in the Mid-Gippsland league grand final, 9.12 (66) to 5.8 (38), at Morwell East Recreation Reserve.
It was Newborough’s first defeat of the season.
Former Gippsland star Matt “Moose’’ McGannon, the son of club great Barry, was best-afield.
It was Fish Creek’s first flag in Mid-Gippy since crossing over from the Alberton league.
Former Murrumbeena player Jarrod Walker was coach of the Creek.
Jai Stefani and Jordan Shaw, the sons of co-presidents Ray Stefani and Nick Shaw, featured in the flag.
“We’ve come from nowhere,’’ Nick Shaw fizzed. “Fishy know how to do it.’’
In the Gippsland league, Leongatha went through to its seventh consecutive grand final when it saw off Moe by 33 points in the preliminary final at Sale.
Sean Westaway, Thomas Marriott and Aaron Heppell led the way for the Parrots, who will meet their great rival Wonthaggi in the decider.
In the West Gippsland league, former Essendon player Will Hams was best-afield as Inverloch-Kongwak defeated Phillip Island by 35 points at Koo Wee Rupp.
DEER PARK’S FIRST EDFL FLAG
Deer Park has powered to the EDFL Division 1 premiership with a 21.14 (140) to 6.8 (44) victory over West Coburg.
The Lions dominated from start to finish and took their game to another level in the second half.
Former AFL midfielder Levi Greenwood starred in the middle alongside Nash Holmes (best on ground) and Jack Dorgan.
Luke Goater was a strong presence up forward for the Lions.
West Coburg’s hopes were all but ended in the second quarter when Jordan Gloury was red-carded for a forearm to a Deer Park opponent.
SWANS SNAP STREAK
The Alvie Swans have ended a 23-year premiership drought, beating Colac Imperials by 28 points to win the Colac District league title.
After a slow start the Swans overturned an 18-point deficit at quarter time to come out on top.
Leading goal kicker in the competition Dominic Dare kicked three goals in the win to bring his overall tally for the year to 116.
Alvie’s premiership win brings their overall tally to 13, which is now level with Lorne for the most in the competition.
DROUGHT OVER
Inverleigh star Ryan Robertson was sent off for a brutal bump in the opening seconds on Thomson superstar Jahd Anderson that forced him to be taken off on a stretcher.
In a fiery start to the one-sided GDFL grand final, Robertson sprinted at full-pelt towards Anderson off the square and bumped him front on as he gathered the ball, leaving Anderson down on the ground for several minutes.
Tempers flared between the two sides as Thomson players responded to the treatment of the Team of the Year Tiger, with spotfires breaking out as he lay motionless on the turf.
Robertson was then yellow-carded by the umpires and sent off the field after the incident that is sure to cop significant scrutiny from the match review.
Anderson was carried off on a stretcher and sat out the remainder of the match.
Thomson failed to respond to the hit on-field, though, scoring just one goal in the first half as Inverleigh secured a 63-point win and snapped its 31-year premiership drought.
Robertson received a mixed response as he received his premiership medallion, copping some boos from onlookers.
VAMPIRES VICTORIOUS
Nick Jewell has coached East Brighton to its first Southern league premiership in nine years after a 37-point triumph over Murrumbeena in the Division 2 decider at Mordialloc.
The Vampires set up victory with a seven-goal-to-one second quarter before withstanding a late challenge to prevail 13.14 (92) to 8.7 (55).
The Vampires’ side included club games record holder Mark ‘Junior’ Jamieson; it was his fourth premiership at the age of 40.
Former Victorian cricketer Jewell returned this season to East Brighton, the club he started at as a seven-year-old and played at until 22.
GLEN EIRA REIGNS SUPREME
Glen Eira has powered to a 15.13 (103) to 6.13 (49) grand final win over Oakleigh in the VAFA’s Division 1 at Trevor Barker Oval.
Capping off a season where it finished minor premier with a 16-2 home-and-away record, Glen Eira turned a four-point half-time lead into a match-winning 51-point advantage in the third quarter, kicking eight goals to one to all but seal the deal.
PANTHERS BOUNCE BACK
For the first time in 21 years, Eltham is celebrating a premiership.
Saturday was redemption day as the Panthers erased last year’s grand final defeat with dominant 41-point win over Diamond Creek in the NFNL Division 2 decider at Preston City Oval.
It’s the club’s first flag since 2002 and earns it a return to the top flight for the first time since 2017.
Miserly against Preston’s notorious wind and explosive with it, a six-goal fourth quarter put a cherry on the 12.13 (85) to 6.8 (44) triumph.
VFL-listed young gun Finnbar Maley was inspiration, marking almost everything in sight and finishing with six goals in a standout best-on-ground display.
SUNS HOLD ON, JUST
The Suns are premiers of the WRFL Division 3 competition.
They managed to hold on by two points against a fast-finishing Albanvale which kicked the last five goals of the game.
Jack Burgess and Patrick Hynes impressed.
Albanvale coach Nick Smith’s bold decision to play one of his gun forwards, Nathan Johnson, at fullback on competition leading goalkicker Daniel Hovey almost proved a master stroke.
GOAL AVALANCHE CLINCHES DOGS WIN
Two ex-AFL players have fired Wandin into the Outer East league Premier division grand final with a 93-point demolition of Woori Yallock.
The Bulldogs raced to a six-goal lead by half-time of Saturday’s preliminary final before unleashing an 11-goal avalanche in the second half.
Former Port Adelaide player Joel Garner kicked five goals and ex-Blue and Kangaroo Aaron Mullett four in the 23.21 (159) to 9.12 (66) victory.
Wandin will face reigning premier Narre Warren in the grand final.
RAT ATTACK
The drought is over for the Ararat Rats after claiming their first premiership in 21 years with a 21-point win over the Southern Mallee Giants in the Wimmera league.
After a slow start a six-goal second term got the Rats back into the contest and leading by 15 points at half time.
The Giants came back in the third before the Rats kicked away in the final term to claim the premiership.
Former Northern Bullants player Tom Mills kicked three goals with former Carlton player Tom Williamson involved as well.
WE’RE GOING TO BONNIE DOON ...
The Ovens and King league premiership is off to Bonnie Doon for the first time after the Bombers beat Bright in the final by 22 points.
The contest was won in the first half with the Bombers kicking six goals to three to lead by 21 points at the main break.
Despite being kept to two goals in the second half, Bonnie Doon were able to hold on.
Luke Murray kicked three goals for the Bombers in the win.
The win is the clubs first title since 2009 when the Bombers won the final Benalla and District league premiership.
EAGLES GO BACK-TO-BACK
Gordon has gone back-to-back in the Central Highlands league with a thumping 57-point win over Springbank.
Springbank entered the game on a 15-game winning streak but Gordon had other ideas, nullifying the Tigers attack, keeping them to two goals to three-quarter time.
Eagles half-forward Billy Griffiths was the player of the match, kicking four goals in the grand final.
Gordon has now beaten Springbank in the past two grand finals by an average of 61 points.
LIONS TOO GOOD
Mulwala has held off a first-half challenge from Congupna to win its second straight Murray league premiership.
Down at quarter time, the Lions fought back to lead by a goal at half-time before kicking away in a decisive third term.
Four goals to one opened up a 26-point lead, which the Lions extended in the final term.
Mulwala won by 33 points to win their eighth premiership as a club.
Lions forward Ronald Middleton was the difference, kicking seven goals.
CHILTERN CHARGES HOME
Chiltern has won back-to-back titles in the Tallangatta league with a come-from-behind with over Kiewa Sandy Creek.
Down by three goals at the final change, the Swans charged home to stun the Hawks, who lost one game all season.
Chiltern kicked 3.5 to 0.2 to win the competition for the second time in the club’s history in the league.
Mark Doolan kicked five goals for the Swans.
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