MPNFL: Pines defeats Sorrento by one point in a classic MPNFL grand final

A CROWD of thousands holding its collective breath, a kick after the siren to win — even a cheeky streaker who evaded four security guards only to be tackled to the ground. The Mornington Peninsula Division 1 grand final had everything.

IT was the greatest point in Pines footy club’s history.

The Pythons hadn’t won a premiership in 24 years — and they still hadn’t when the siren sounded in Sunday’s epic grand final against Sorrento.

But Aaron Ludewig changed all that.

Scores were level when the Pines small forward took a mark 38m out moments before the siren.

Pines need any score to win vs Sorrento after the siren ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/i4GrIsQ1Bp

— magoo (@vanhaighendorf) 16 September 2018

It all rested on Ludewig’s boot.

With thousands holding their breath, he thumped it as hard as he could and it sailed through to the left for a point.

For Pines, it was enough. More than enough.

Aaron Ludewig kicks the winning point for Pines. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The Pythons’ party had begun in earnest.

Fans stormed on to Frankston Park to celebrate the end of a long premiership drought — the Pythons’ first flag since 1994.

Pines had won the greatest grand final in MPNFL history, 14.12 (96) to 14.11 (95).

It had it all, even a streaker who cheekily evaded four security guards midway through the last quarter before being halted by a bone-crunching tackle from a security man.

A streaker runs on to the ground during the last quarter of the MPNFL Grand Final. Picture: Twitter/@vanhaighendorf

He runs down to the goals. Picture: Twitter/@vanhaighendorf

A guard thinks he has the streaker cornered. Picture: Twitter/@vanhaighendorf

But the guard forgets there are no corners on an oval and the streaker escapes. Picture: Twitter/@vanhaighendorf

Eventually, the Winx of security guards chases the streaker down and tackles him to the ground. Picture: Twitter/@vanhaighendorf

Pines coach Paddy Swayn, who played in the club’s 1994 flag win, had, incredibly, pre-empted the freakish finish.

“Aaron Ludewig, he’d had a bit of a stinker, hadn’t had a good day,” Swayn said.

“He was going back on and I said to him, ‘Mate, it hasn’t been your day but it might be your moment’.

Pines shows off the premiership flag.

“When he took the mark, I looked at the forwards coach Simon Bishop and said, ‘Mate, this could be it’, and then someone yelled, ‘Oh the siren’s gone’. It was just one of those freaky things in sport, wasn’t it?

“I knew he’d kick a point, I had no dramas he’d at least kick a point. When he scored, I was like, we’ve won.

“What a game, though, they challenged us, we challenged them, no one was prepared to give in.

“And I think the margin was probably fitting.”

Sorrento began the game like a rocket, kicking the first five goals to lead by 34 points.

The Sorras, leading 38-4, looked to be on their way to another flag.

Pines finally kicked its first goal four minutes into the second quarter when Aaron Edwards took a strong mark and converted.

It sparked a complete momentum swing, the Pythons drilling six successive goals to grab a five-point lead by halftime.

Dejected Sorrento star Mitchell Hallahan after the grand final.

It was clear this was no ordinary flag decider. The pressure was immense.

Pines was late out onto the ground in the third quarter, coach Swayn having to sprint around the boundary to his position before the bounce.

Sorrento wrestled back control, with Luke Tapscott and strong marking Nick Corp making their presence felt.

Sorras skipper James Hallahan fended off and spun out of a pack to snap a beauty as the Sharks went 20 points ahead.

Daniel Grant was everywhere for Sorrento.

But Pines came again. Livewire forward Tom McDermott kicked three goals in a row, including one after the siren, to put the Pythons back in front by five points at the last change.

That grew to 12 points when Brendan Barfoot drilled a set-shot as Pines had all the momentum.

Sorrento players come to terms with their narrow defeat.

Corp then found Leigh Poholke — twice — for two goals as Sorrento stormed back to snatch a one-point lead with minutes to go.

Young Sorrento forward Marcus Gardiner then snapped a brilliant left-foot goal to put the Sorras a goal up with only moments to go.

In a critical play, Pines defender Nick Boswell was awarded a 50m penalty and drilled a 52m goal to again level scores.

With seconds to go, Boswell found Lachlan Marshall, who speared a pass to Ludewig. Siren. The rest is history.

The lead-up to the game was full of spice. Pines skipper Beau Hendry played after getting off a two-game suspension, while Sorrento’s Chris Dawes also played, a week after being on crutches.

And Swayn revealed Edwards went into the game with a knee injury and hadn’t trained for two weeks.

Pines defender Jack Fisher retired after the game.

Young Python Perry Lewis-Smith won the medal as best-afield, turning in a slashing final quarter.

Mt Eliza won both the reserves and Under 19s grand finals, the latter by a point.