NFL Division 3 grand final: St Mary’s skipper Dillan Ronalds enjoys spoils of success
SKIPPER Dillan Ronalds says leading St Mary’s to a historic Northern Football League premiership “means absolutely everything”.
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SKIPPER Dillan Ronalds says leading St Mary’s to a historic Northern Football League premiership “means absolutely everything”.
Ronalds has long been considered one of the prime movers in the NFL’s third tier, featuring for the Burra in five of the past seven seasons.
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The influential on-baller spent two years with Lower Plenty in 2014 and 2015, but returned to Whatmough Park the next season to spearhead the club’s pursuit of its maiden flag.
After experiencing Division 3 semi-final losses in the past two years, Ronalds helped St Mary’s put its history of near-misses behind it with an 11.7 (73) to 8.12 (60) victory in the decider against Panton Hill.
“We probably thought we were good enough to go all the way if we just got through that (first) one,” Ronalds said.
Ronalds is on track to play his 100th senior game for St Mary’s next year and has a remarkable record with the club.
The strong-bodied midfielder has been named in the best players 64 times in 82 games, highlighting his matchwinning influence.
Asked what enabled the club to end its finals drought this season, Ronalds said: “I thought we have been capable of it the last two years as well and things just haven’t quite worked. The feeling has been good all year.”
Under first-year coach Fab Carelli, the Burra finished four games clear on top of the ladder before twice defeating the Redbacks in finals.
Ronalds said he was confident the club was ready for Division 2, adding the depth of its young talent suggested it had a bright future.
St Mary’s also triumphed in the reserves grand final and the club’s under-19 team finished sixth in Division 1.
Ronalds named James Todd and Mitchell Hocking, two of the Burra’s best in the grand final, as rising stars ready for the next level.
“The guys that are 21, 22 have stepped up,” he said.
“A couple of 18-year-old kids have come in and they are ready-made players.
“The future of the club looks great.”
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