MPNFL grand final: Pines hero Aaron Ludewig relives after-the-siren kick

PINES grand final hero Aaron Ludewig has relived the dramatic moments of the MPNFL Division 1 grand final as he took a shot for an after-the-siren victory against Sorrento.

PINES grand final hero Aaron Ludewig has relived the dramatic moments of the MPNFL Division 1 grand final as he took a shot for an after-the-siren victory against Sorrento.

Ludewig revealed his only fear was he wouldn’t make the distance and the game would end in a draw (leading to extra time).

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With 14 seconds to go, and scores all tied at 95 points apiece, Ludewig marked a pass from teammate Lachlan Marshall — after a terrific passage of play from the backline involving Perry Lewis-Smith, Khyal Jacobson and Nick Boswell.

Ludewig could win the flag for Pines with any score.

He was about 40m out on a slight angle. It seemed straightforward, but consider the situation.

The entire season hinged on his kick. There were 8000 people watching and it was at the end of a pulsating, pressure-packed flag decider.

Ludewig’s kick — “I don’t think I hit it too well to be honest’’ — sailed through for a point to give Pines its first premiership since 1994.

Jubilant scenes followed.

Aaron Ludewig launches the grand final winning point for Pines. Picture: Andy Brownbill.

Ludewig, 26, said booting his now famous point was the “best day of my life’’.

“I don’t think it will get much better than that,’’ he said.

“I don’t think it still has sunk in that we’ve won a flag.’’

Ludewig paid credit to his coach Paddy Swayn for believing in him. It was Swayn’s positive words that flashed through his mind as he began his approach to kick the ball.

“I’d had a stinker of a day, and Paddy said to me, ‘it might not be your day but you can have your moment’,’’ he said.

“I think when I marked it, that’s all I was thinking, I’ve had a Barry Crocker but this could be a chance to do something for the game and Paddy had belief in me and that’s all I thought about.’’

Aaron Ludewig (top) celebrates with team mates after kicking the winning point. Picture: Andy Brownbill.

Ludewig said he didn’t hear the siren and was only made aware it when teammate Tim Bongetti ran over to him.

“I went to line up and the umpire come in front again and I had to reset again,’’ he said.

“I saw everyone running back and I thought I better kick it quickly before they get back just in case it doesn’t make the distance, so they don’t touch it on the line.

“I wasn’t going to miss everything.’’

Ludewig also revealed that he nearly retired during the season. As a child he suffered from Perthes disease, a rare condition that affects the hip, and it impacted on him early in the season, sidelining him for several months.

“Just my hips were no good, and then Paddy sort of said, ‘you can play a role’, and then a few of the boys said, ‘you can play a role’,’’ he said.

Premiership glory for Pines in the most dramatic fashion. Picture: Andy Brownbill.

Ludewig was a late inclusion on the morning of the Round 14 game against Frankston Bombers on July 21. Despite telling Swayn that he wasn’t ready to play ones, he kicked four goals and it was the turning point of his year.

Ludewig has played his entire career with Pines, starting out in the Under 9s, and Sunday’s grand final win was his first premiership.

A proud Python, he is looking forward to achieving club life membership of 175 games next season.

“I’ve got 15 games to go,’’ he said.

Ludewig laughed at suggestions he was now Pines’ most famous Aaron.

“Yeah, I know, move over Aaron Edwards,’’ he chuckled.

*Had the grand final ended in a draw, extra time of two five-minute halves would have been played, according to AFL South East region manager John Anderson.

Anderson also said both the crowd, of over 8000, and the gate takings were records.

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