NFL grand final: West Preston-Lakeside wins first flag since 2010
A HERCULEAN performance from ruckman Mark Kovacevic led West Preston-Lakeside to its first premiership since 2010 with a nine-point victory over Macleod in the Division 1 grand final.
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A HERCULEAN performance from ruckman Mark Kovacevic led West Preston-Lakeside to its first premiership since 2010 with a nine-point victory over Macleod in Saturday’s Division 1 grand final.
The Roosters twice answered goals from the Roos in a gripping last quarter at Preston City Oval to clinch the Northern Football League flag, triumphing 11.12 (78) to 9.15 (69).
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Aidan Tilley and Carl Adams stood tall with the eyes of thousands on them, kicking clutch goals after Macleod had drawn within five points at the eight-minute mark of the final term and three points with less than five minutes on the clock.
But no player stood taller than West Preston-Lakeside’s Coburg VFL-listed big man Kovacevic, who was the dominant player on the ground and adjudged best afield.
The 204cm ruckman’s presence at stoppages was telling and his impact around the ground gave the Roosters an edge the Roos could not counter.
“He’s been super since he has come down from Coburg,” West Preston-Lakeside captain Nathan Valladares said.
“That’s been one thing, we haven’t had a ruckman in the last five years. It’s just such an advantage to have a bloke like that.”
A massive Kova chant from the @RoostersWPLFC faithful as @markkova23 accepts the BOG medal @northernfnl @CalderCannonsFC pic.twitter.com/YgeVwJdYGt
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) September 22, 2018
Shaking off a hamstring injury to take his place in the Northern Football League decider, Ahmed Saad kicked two majors in the first quarter to help the Roosters establish a nine-point break.
Key forward Liam McVeigh was the other danger in attack, matching Saad’s effort, however two majors from ex-Richmond forward Ben Lennon kept Macleod in touch.
Lennon, a late inclusion for injured Frank Rosbrook medallist Lucas Hobbs, snapped the first major of the second term as the Roos looked to take advantage of a breeze favouring the market end.
Macleod dominated territory, pinning West Preston in its defensive 50, but squandered several gilt-edged opportunities to seize control of the contest.
The Roos registered seven consecutive behinds before Anthony Doherty bagged two goals in two minutes to hand his side an eight-point halftime advantage.
Reid Brandt stretched the lead to 14 points with the opening major of the third quarter before the Roosters started the run which would determine the destination of this year’s premiership trophy.
McVeigh shrugged off a tackle through sheer force and dribbled through his fourth goal, before Saad snapped his third major to trim the deficit to two points.
West Preston regained the lead through a long-range snap from tough on-baller Luke Lirosi, before a perfectly-placed Kovacevic tap allowed Patrick Karnezis to put the Roosters nine points ahead.
Just your typical premiership snap for @RoostersWPLFC pic.twitter.com/JXgbutBVeW
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) September 22, 2018
Holding an 11-point three-quarter-time lead, the Roosters defended manfully and locked the ball in their attacking half for much of the last term.
Tilley rose highest in a crowd of players and made no mistake to give West Preston a 10-point lead with under 10 minutes left.
Brandt set the scene for a grandstand finish with his third major, but when Adams held his nerve to answer just over a minute later the flag was headed to J.E Moore Park.
“Just very proud, there’s a lot of work that has gone into it from a lot of people,” premiership coach Rob Maiorana said.
“Not just the players and coaches. The volunteers and the people behind-the-scenes that put a lot of hours and a lot of time into the footy club.
“I am just happy and proud for them to be able to share this moment.”
Macleod’s third successive grand final loss — which have come by a combined margin of 28 points — will be a bitter pill to swallow after the club finished four games clear at the end of the home-and-away season.
The grand final was coach Garry Ramsay’s last match in charge of the Roos.
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