Laurimar snatches NFNL Division 3 grand final victory with stunning late surge
Laurimar claimed its first senior premiership in club history, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with a stunning late surge to break Mernda hearts.
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A stunning late show saw Laurimar snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and claim a drama-filled NFNL Division 3 premiership on Saturday.
Jacson Cecil was paid a highly contentious mark and the Power forward lived every kids dream has he nailed the winning goal with just seconds left on the clock.
It capped a breathtaking final quarter, which saw nine goals kicked and the Power come from the clouds.
HEAR FROM GRAND FINAL MEDALLIST JOSH LEATHER BELOW
Trailing by 17 points mid-way through the term Laurimar staged a famous comeback, kicking five goals in the final 13 minutes to claim a first senior premiership in club history, 13.5 (83) to 11.11 (77), at Whittlesea Showgrounds.
Power coach Jimmy Atkins was lost for words after the match.
Your 2023 @northernfnl Division 3 premiers ... Laurimar
— Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84) September 9, 2023
GF Medal: Josh Leather. pic.twitter.com/ZeiO8i3oBr
“What a resilient group, dead-and-buried but we never stopped fighting,” he said.
“We knew we had leg speed and we threw a few things around but just getting the ball in our hands and getting our running game going.
“We didn’t have that in the second and third quarter and in the fourth we finally got the forward handballs and got moving and I knew once we did that we’d take it to the end.
“It was a dream to start a senior football club, we wanted to win a premiership – everyone wants to win a premiership.
“To be able to do it in six or seven years and play in a grand final before that and finals, it’s amazing and a credit to the guys that started it up.”
Riley Edwards’ second goal of the quarter looked to have been enough for Mernda to secure a return to Division 2 for the first time since 2015.
However, Matt Gersh kicked two quick goals to give the Power life.
Minutes later grand final medallist Josh Leather grabbed the ball out of the ruck and kicked truly to level the scores and when co-captain Luke Wilson goalled from 50m Laurimar were, almost unbelievably, in front.
Mernda rallied and when Will Crouch marked and goalled it looked like the game was heading for extra-time.
However, the Power came again and Joel Lawson’s high kick saw Cecil sandwiched in a two-on-one marking contest, the ball was spoiled high in the air, land back in Cecil’s arms and he was awarded a dubious mark.
A bit of gamesmanship then saw him take an eternity to take his kick but he slotted the goal and the siren sounded almost immediately after the centre bounce.
“When (the time comes) you stand up, your leaders stand up,” Atkins said of the spearhead.
“He contested all day, it didn’t really go his way early but it doesn’t matter he ended up with the ball in his hands and won a grand final.”
It sparked wild celebrations as Laurimar fans charged on the field.
The win is the Power’s first senior premiership in its seven-year history and will see the club step up to Division 2 in 2024.
Mitch Thompson was outstanding in midfield, winning clearances almost a will throughout and a terrier in the contest.
Leather, Ethan Frawley and Wilson had massive fourth quarters to lift their team over the line, while young guns Jai Langford, Kaiden Arthur (three goals) and Joel Lawson impressed in the early stages.
“Mitch Thompson is just an amazing footballer, he and Eth Frawley, Luke Wilson in the middle I thought they were brilliant,” Atkins said.
“Josh was amazing, he and Clarkey (Aiden Clarke) were good on Morrison.”
For Mernda, it was heartbreak, after leading all day to see the game slip away.
After trailing at quarter-time, the Demons took control of the match through the second and third terms, shutting down Laurimar’s run with intense pressure around the ball.
Mernda were cruelled by late injuries.
Michael Evans, arguably best-on-ground to that point, suffered a broken ankle in the third quarter, while influential ruckman Billy Morrison limped off late in the fourth.
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Defenders Dayne Kellett and Kai Turner was superb all the match, Kellett shutting down qualifying final match-winner Noah Mooney, while Edwards finished with three goals.
Coach Rob Fletcher said while it hurt now his club could look back with plenty of pride on an outstanding season.
The reserve grade, Old Eltham Collegians claimed a 20-point win over Laurimar to also snare a historic premiership, the club’s first in the Northern league.
While Thomastown won the under-19s title with a 30-point win over Hurstbridge.
LEATHER LOST FOR WORDS AFTER POWER COMEBACK
Just as Laurimar’s premiership hopes looked gone it’s midfield burst to life.
It started with the ruckmen, Josh Leather and Aiden Clarke, and a critical last-quarter goal was enough for Leather to be awarded the grand final medal as best-on-ground.
As the Power stormed home in the final minutes of Saturday’s NFNL Division 3 grand final, Leather kicked the goal to level the scores with just minutes left.
Taking the ball out of the ruck from a boundary throw-in, the young tall snapped truly.
Leather and Clarke had battled Billy Morrison all day and the moment proved decisive as the Demons big man limped off following the goal and didn’t return.
It allowed Laurimar to take control in the final minutes and go onto claim a dramatic three-point victory and maiden senior premiership.
“It’s an unreal feeling, I can’t believe it,” Leather said.
“What a game to be honest, that fourth quarter was so back-and-forth.
“I just couldn’t believe and even when we tried to bottle it, didn’t have a ruckman and they went down and kicked a goal, it was just ridiculous.
“He’s a star player and Clarkey definitely helps – as a tandem we work very well – and we had to throw it around with (Ethan) Bateman coming in as well.
“To see all the young kids coming through, it’s fantastic.”
Leather was influential in the last quarter, together with midfielders Luke Wilson and Matt Gersh.
Co-captain Mitch Thompson was outstanding throughout the match, while Kaiden Arthur kicked three goals.
After a grand final defeat last season, Leather said the experience had certainly driven him to avoid a repeat.
“Yeah, 100 per cent, especially when we were up in the first quarter and they came back,” Leather said.
“We managed to grind back, just kept coming back, and eventually we got there.
“Luke, Mitchy, Matt Gersh in there today, they were all awesome. It’s just fantastic.”
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