NFL 2018: West Preston-Lakeside makes history with dual premierships
WEST Preston-Lakeside continues to revel in its historic premiership double after becoming the first NFL club to claim men’s and women’s premierships in the same season.
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WEST Preston-Lakeside continues to revel in its historic premiership double after becoming the first Northern Football League club to claim men’s and women’s premierships in the same season.
The Roosters’ secured the Division 1 men’s flag and Division 2 women’s crown this year, capping arguably the most successful season in their 71-year history.
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“It is something people worked hard for,” president Luciano Condurso said.
“When it happens, you bring a lot of joy to a lot of people.”
West Preston’s women’s team went one better than its debut season, defeating Montmorency by nine points in the grand final after storming through the home-and-away season with an 11-1 record.
The Roosters have been one of the success stories of the NFLW competition after entering their inaugural side last year, winning 26 of their 32 games with Brett Pollard at the helm.
“The ladies bring a whole new dimension to the club. It’s good now for our junior girls to see what can actually happen,” Condurso said.
“Our under-16 girls won the premiership this year as well, so it’s a great thing for them to see the senior girls succeeding.
“It gives them something to look forward to in the senior ranks. Previously, they didn’t have that.”
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Bundoora was the reigning Division 1 men’s premier for three weeks after its women’s side triumphed in this year’s NFLW Division 3 grand final.
The Roosters pinched that title from the Bulls with victory in an absorbing grand final against Macleod, claiming their first top-flight flag since 2010 under coach Rob Maiorana.
“I reckon we are probably about a year ahead of where we thought we would be,” Condurso said.
“But you get into it and you don’t know what might happen.
“Last year, we were a bit disappointed to finish a bit earlier than we thought.”
There were six father-son players in West Preston’s premiership side and 12 members of the grand final team graduated from the Roosters’ junior ranks.
“There’s a fair bit of homegrown talent, so that is what makes it even more enjoyable for the club,” Condurso said.
“To see these kids coming through the juniors, then all of a sudden they’ve won a premiership.”
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