MPNFL: Langwarrin caps ‘phenomenal’ season with premiership glory
Langwarrin’s ‘one club’ ethos was to the fore as the powerhouse MPNFL Division 2 club won premierships in seniors, reserves and Under 19s.
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A dynamic four-goal-to-nil first quarter into the wind has fired Langwarrin to its first senior premiership in the Mornington Peninsula league in 17 years.
The Kangaroos, undefeated this season, dismantled Karingal by 51 points in Saturday’s Division 2 grand final at Frankston Park, triumphing 10.9 (69) to 2.6 (18).
Josh Dormer was the only multiple goal kicker in the game, slotting three, while midfielder Zach Andrewartha walked away with best-on-ground honours.
Langwarrin’s reserves and Under 19s sides also won premierships, making it a hat-trick of flags for the powerhouse club.
The three teams lost only one game between them this season.
“It’s a phenomenal year for the club,’’ Langwarrin co-coach Josh Beard said.
“We’ll probably really reflect when the beers stop flowing and we can talk about it.’’
Beard and Blake McCormack — the only senior coaching partnership in the MPNFL — led Langwarrin to its sixth premiership in its history, spanning more than a century.
Many believe Covid robbed the Kangaroos of the 2021 flag.
They made amends this season with a faultess display.
Karingal won the toss and kicked with the breeze to the Kars St end.
But Langwarrin burst from the blocks, with Josh Bateman kicking the opening goal of the game as the Kangaroos rushed to a 27-0 lead at quarter-time.
Try as it may, Karingal was powerless to penetrate Langy’s backline wall, led by Mitch Cuthbert, Nick Hammill, Haydn Golby and Billy Rolfe, who intercepted almost a dozen forward entries.
“We kicked into the wind and went into the break four goals up,’’ Beard said.
“And we were going to be hard to catch from that point.’’
Beard said Karingal was “super competitive’’ but Langwarrin had all the answers.
“I mean, we had to work hard for every score we got,’’ Beard said.
“The difference was probably whenever they entered the fifty our defence stood really tall and defended brilliantly well.’’
Joel Bateman and co-captain Blake Peach were also among Langy’s best.
Former Essendon player Mark Baguley, who kicked a goal in the victory, completed a remarkable achievement, playing in Langwarrin premierships 17 years apart.
He was 18 when he was best-on-ground in Langy’s 2005 flag and after a 134-game AFL career returned home to help the club reach the pinnacle once again.
Beard said Langwarrin’s success was built from “from within’’.
“The side that lost the preliminary final in 2019…we’ve gone in with more or less the same side with a handful of kids who have come through our juniors,’’ he said.
“That’s how we strengthened up and improved.’’
Beard said Langwarrin was fortunate to have a “bloody outstanding’’ coaching staff, including former Sydney Swans player and North Melbourne assistant coach Jarred Moore, multiple premiership coach Gavin Artico and club champion Shaun Staggard.
“Geez, it’s brilliant to have people of that calibre working with us,’’ Beard said.
Beard said Langwarrin’s success was a product of a ‘one club’ ethos.
“All our training is together,’’ he said.
“All three sides train together, we all compete against each other, everything we do is together and I think it makes us a better club.’’
Karingal coach Luke Forsyth said the Bulls were beaten by a better side on the day.
“They’ve got talent all over the field,’’ he said.
“We knew we couldn’t go head to head with them with the guys we had out so we had to be defensive at times.
“I thought it worked at times...but we just couldn’t score.’’
Karingal’s best included Mitch Glenn, Scott Jansen, Lachlan Hinde and Matt Robinson.
Forsyth said the loss “won’t define our season’’.
“There are still plenty of positives to take out of it,’’ he said.
“We’ll do everything we can to be there this time next year.’’
In the reserves, Langwarrin beat Karingal 12.20 (92) to 6.3 (39), with Dale Donkin kicking four goals. Thomas Branch, Benjamin Honey, James Longley, Jason Curry and Andrew Johnson were also among the best.
Langwarrin’s Under 19s beat Seaford by four points in a thriller, triumphing 7.14 (56) to 8.4 (52).
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