Outer East league 2023: Powelltown wins back-to-back premierships in Division 2

After going 33 years without a premiership, Powelltown has won two on the bounce as its coach signed off in style.

Powelltown celebrate the 2023 Outer East Division 2 premiership. Picture: Facebook

The premiership drought is a distant memory.

Powelltown is flushed with success — a grand final-winning juggernaut — after completing back-to-back flags in Outer East Division 2 on Saturday, defeating Alexandra by 13 points in a flag-deciding shoot-out at Yarra Glen, 17.12 (114) to 15.11 (101).

Emotions fluctuated wildly as Powelltown rushed to a five-goal lead in the opening quarter, only for Alexandra to storm back and hit the front by half-time.

But Powelltown made its winning move in the “premiership quarter”, kicking five goals to one in the third term, to surge 18 points ahead at the last change.

It was then all about gripping on as the Towners dug deep to deny a gallant Alexandra in a tense final quarter.

Best-on-ground Michael Fowkes.

Powelltown coach Jarrod Bayliss.

Michael Fowkes capped a best-on-ground display with four goals, while 38-year-old former North Melbourne forward Joel Perry slotted three.

Russell Cowan, Chris Moreland, Brock Castree, Dylan Sverns and skipper Ben Wratten were also named in Powelltown’s best.

It was a fairytale end for Powelltown playing-coach Jarrod Bayliss, who announced before the game that the grand final would be his last game as coach.

“I couldn’t have written the script any better to be honest,’’ Bayliss said on Sunday morning.

“I made the call during the week it would be my last year coaching. I did that knowing that if we win on the weekend then I couldn’t talk myself back into doing it.

“Twelve years is enough.’’

Bayliss poured praise on his “special group’’ of players.

“We stuck together,’’ he said.

“What a special group, what a special day.

“Unbelievable really. There’s so much history within our group. There’s probably 16 or 17 guys who’ve played footy together or grown up together. It’s such a tight knit group. We’ve been in the trenches. And it showed, when the game was in the balance we just found a way.’’

Bayliss said Fowkes, who had a massive finals series, kicking 14 goals in three games, was instrumental when the premiership was up for grabs.

“His last quarter was one for the ages, he took about eight contested marks up the line in the last eight or nine minutes and he was just enormous,’’ he said.

“I put it in on him at three quarter time, I said, ‘if you want to win a medal today, mate, you need to go and win the game for us and get up the line, fight tooth and nail’.

“And didn’t he just do it. Wow, unbelievable. I think he took two one handers wrestling and just iced the game. He just showed the quality of person he is.’’

Bayliss coached Wandin and Park Orchards before joining Powelltown three years ago; he captained a flag at Wandin and coached Park Orchards to a premiership.

Now he is a two-time premiership coach at Powelltown.

“I’ve loved my journey,” he said.

Warburton Millgrove with the 2023 reserves premiership flag. Picture: Facebook

Bayliss said Powelltown’s celebrations were special but tempered, with most players heading home before midnight so they could enjoy Father’s Day on Sunday.

“We all wanted to enjoy Father’s Day this morning and make it a special morning for the kids,’’ he said.

“Yesterday I reckon everyone who collected a medal there was one or two kids on their arm.’’

In the reserves, Warburton Millgrove has completed a perfect undefeated season, beating Powelltown by 43 points to claim the premiership, 7.16 (58) to 1.9 (15).

Aaron Pye was named best-on-ground in the grand final, while Tyler Bert, Aaron Maguire, Jackson Blake, Matthew Sidari and Marcel Kocher were also in the best.

Seniors: Alexandra 1.2, 10.2, 11.8, 15.11 (101) lt Powelltown 6.2, 9.5, 14.8, 17.12 (114).

Goals: Michael Fowkes 4, Joel Perry 3, James Ashby 2, Gary Conyers 2, Chris Moreland 2, Russell Cowan, Jimmy Messis, Garry Sheppard, Justin van Unen.

Best: Michael Fowkes, Russell Cowan, Christopher Moreland, Brock Castree, Dylan Sverns, Ben Wratten.