MPNFL 2015: Rosebud overpowers Somerville in Nepean league decider
Rosebud unleashed a last-quarter surge to beat Somerville by 20 points in the 2015 Nepean league grand final at a packed Frankston Park.
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It’s been a bumpy journey, but the destination was worth it for Rosebud on Saturday.
The Buds were basking in premiership glory after unleashing a last-quarter surge to beat Somerville by 20 points in the 2015 Nepean league grand final at a packed Frankston Park.
Rosebud was eight points behind at three quarter time but booted 5.6 to Somerville’s 1.2 in the final stanza to claim the flag 13.14 (92) to 10.12 (72).
Triumphant Rosebud coach Nick Jewell, who controversially resigned mid-season but stayed to steer the club to its first flag in eight years, praised his players after the win.
“The harder it got this year and the more crap that was thrown at us the tighter we got as a group,’’ he said.
There was drama moments after the final siren when bottles and cans were thrown at Rosebud coaching and staff and players as they celebrated. Police were quickly on the scene and arrested a couple of unruly spectators.
Somerville, after surging from eighth last season, was denied its first premiership in 29 years.
The Eagles had a crack, darting 14 points ahead when Justin Allsopp snapped the opening goal of the last quarter.
But Rosebud, kicking with a slight breeze, lifted and fired off the last five goals of the season.
The Buds’ young forwards sprung to life, with 18-year-old Tom Stoffels snapping a goal out of nothing to cut Somey’s lead to five points and then 19-year-old Keegan Downie’s left foot snap put the Buds a point up midway through the term.
Young Somerville forward Luke Rowe kicked a point to level the scores before Buds livewire Glenn Petersen — with a spray from Jewell still ringing in his ears — cleverly dribbled through a goal to put his side six points up.
Nearby, Somerville defender Tim Hirst was lying on the ground, injured. The game was halted for five minutes while he was stretchered off.
The Buds had growing belief and they were coming hard. Greg Bentley, now on the ball, was pumping it forward where the forwards were lining up. Downie just missed and Bentley’s running shot narrowly was off line. Somerville was under siege. Rob Forrest’s high kick towards goal was marked by big Tom Baker in the goal square. He went back and drilled it and Rosebud was 14 points up. Moments later, Petersen’s chip kick found Jason Bristow, who snapped a goal — it was the sealer.
Rosebud left-footer Seb Krumeich won the best-on-ground medal after his crucial shutdown job on Somey’s Billy Rolfe.
Bristow fuelled Rosebud’s surge, gathering 34 touches, while skipper Ryan Spooner, Forrest, Nick Boswell and Rhys Bancroft were key figures in the victory.
For Somerville, Josh Westerman, Todd Farrelly and Ben Sedgwick played hard all game.
Somerville jumped Rosebud at the start, kicking two goals in the opening five minutes.
But the Buds steadied and got on a roll, piling on six goals in a row to lead by 18 points at quarter time.
Jewell liked what he saw.
“We got our hands on the ball and I thought we were going to run all over them after having a week off,’’ he said. “But to their (Somerville’s) credit they are a bloody good side. They actually out hunted us ... We didn’t play our game until the last 20 minutes (of the game).’’
It was Rosebud’s fourth win over Somerville this season and Eagles coach David Hirst, speaking at the presentation, conceded the Buds “had our measure all year’’.
Buds flag men: Keegan Downie, Rob Forrest, Greg Bentley, Tom Stoffels, Jason Bristow, Glenn Petersen, Tom Baker, Brad McDonald, Lachlan Armstrong, Ben Dwyer, Rhys Bancroft, Nick Boswell, Seb Krumeich, Chris Zurek, Dale Stephens, Cade Williams, Daniel Wilson, Kurtis Corrin, Brenton Davidge, Ryan Spooner, Matt Baker, Jack Jarman.
TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Rosebud footballer Brad McDonald suffered a fractured skull and perforated eardrum in the Buds’ grand final win over Somerville last week. He received the injuries in a head clash with Somerville’s Scott Simpson at the start of the last quarter. Yet, McDonald stayed to receive his premiership medal and was photographed celebrating with the team, despite being in obvious pain. After singing the song with this teammates in the rooms, blood began coming out of his ear. “We called an ambulance but he said, ‘I’m not going until I get my medal’,’’ Rosebud coach Nick Jewell said. McDonald went to Frankston Hospital and was transferred to the Alfred where he spent several days before being released. Last Thursday, he sent a text to Jewell and his Rosebud premiership teammates declaring: “My playing days are over...surgeons have said...I won’t be able to play contact sport again. So I would just like to say it’s been an awesome journey...
PREMIERSHIP coach one minute, out of work the next…
That’s the unusual situation Nick Jewell finds himself in after ending his three-season stint at Rosebud on the ultimate high.
“It’s time to move on,’’ he said. “That’s sporting clubs. One coach leaves and another walks in the door and players come and go. Hopefully in between time you can achieve something that no one can take away from you.’’ Jewell shocked many by resigning earlier in the season after failing to get an assurance that he would retain his job beyond this season. Rosebud wanted to delay the decision but Jewell made the call to finish at season’s end. There is speculation Jewell will coach Sorrento next season.
PANTHERS MAKE HISTORY
Devon Meadows claimed the first premiership in its history when it won the reserves grand final. The Panthers, established in 1979, came from behind to beat Somerville (which hadn’t lost a game all season) by 37 points after trailing by 26 at quarter time.
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Dromana completed a fairytale late-season surge by hoisting the Under 19 flag. The Tigers were in sixth spot with a round to go but scraped into the finals and on Saturday they beat minor premiers Rosebud by 35 points.
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