South Morang claims drought-breaking premiership double to earn promotion
South Morang is celebrating a premiership double after saluting in the reserves and breaking an 11-year drought in the seniors on Saturday.
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South Morang is back on top of NFL Division 3 for the first time since 2011.
The Lions claimed a drought-breaking premiership on Saturday with a stirring 15-point win over Laurimar at Whittlesea Showgrounds.
The 13.10 (88) to 11.7 (73) victory ends six seasons of heartbreak, with four preliminary final and two grand final defeats, and sees the club return to Division 2 for the first time since 2013.
After being a late withdrawal before the 2019 decider, James Hewson proved his class with a best-on-ground performance to win the grand final medal.
The Lions claimed a premiership double as the reserves also triumphed with a 60-point win over Mernda.
South Morang coach Gary Hall said it was sweet relief.
“It’s been a long time coming, our third attempt in five years, it’s a weight off the shoulders,” he said.
“We’ve learnt a lot, we’re all juniors, we probably played on 22 points today, and even the reserves.
“It’s all mates and brothers, the club is so tight, I’m lost for words.”
South Morang did it the hard way, losing the qualifying final to Laurimar before beating Old Eltham Collegians in the preliminary final.
Fresh from a week off, the Power started the stronger as Jacson Cecil kicked two first-quarter goals to give his side a 14-point lead.
Matt Gersh got the first goal of the second term to put Laurimar in control but the Lions swiftly took control of the game.
South poured on eight unanswered goals across the second and third quarters in a dominant showing.
Young ruckman Liam Jolly, the Lions’ third choice big man, took a series of strong marks, while Alex Colaidis (three goals) and Jake Potter (three goals) were dangerous in attack.
With the game slipping out of reach, Laurimar responded late in the third quarter, despite having ruckman Josh Leather yellow carded, with two goals to narrow the margin to 16 points at the final change.
The Power had two chances early in the fourth but couldn’t convert and South Morang marched down the other end to kick the all-important first goal through Ben Muscat.
The defender took a quick handball and launched a Daniel Rich-like bomb from 50m to send the crowd into hysterics.
A double 50m penalty saw Adrian Alessandrino walked from half-back to kick a goal and seal the win, despite Laurimar kicking the final two goals of the game.
Hall never had any doubt his team could overcome a rusty first quarter.
“We’ve been able to absorb pressure all year, hang in there, it’s a four-quarter game,” he said.
“If we had have kicked straight in the first quarter we would have been right up there but we put ourselves under a little pressure.”
Hewson, Jolly, Colaidis and Potter as well as Ben Power, Mitch Robinson and Trent Harvey were among South Morang’s best.
Hall paid tribute to his best-on-ground medallist.
“Hewy missed the second semi and the last game with hamstring tightness and in the 2019 grand final, not a lot of people know, just as we were about to run out he pulled out and it deflated the whole group,” he said.
“For him to come out today and do that, he’s just quality.”
Ethan Bateman and Luke Wilson were superb for Laurimar, while Nathan Andrews, Al Jackson and Jake Richards also performed well.
South Morang will now look to step up and compete in Division 2.
The Lions will be looking to replicate the performances of Watsonia, Banyule, St Mary’s and Panton Hill, which have all established themselves after winning promotion.
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Hall said the club was confident it could survive and thrive at the higher level.
“We feel that’s where we belong, we’re confident we’ll be competitive,” he said.
“We’ll let this sink in for a week or two and then we’ll get down to business.”
The Lions claimed the reserve grade premiership 14.8 (92) to 4.8 (32) win over Mernda, while in the opening game of the day Watsonia won the under-19 flag over Mernda, 7.13 (55) to 5.3 (33).
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