Outer East league: Narre Warren beats storm and Woori Yallock to hoist flag

Outer East league has revealed how close it was to postponing the Premier division grand final because of lightning before Narre Warren capped off “the biggest day the club’s ever had”.

The premiership cups were on display at Narre Warren on Sunday night. Picture: Facebook

A lightning strike during the national anthem at Sunday’s Outer East Premier division grand final at Gembrook sent players and umpires scurrying for cover.

It delayed the flag decider for 45 minutes as league officials closely monitored the radar and even considered postponing the game to Friday.

“If there had been another lightning storm — there was supposed to be one at 3.10 — if that had happened we would have had to play it on Friday,” Outer East chief executive officer Aaron Bailey said.

“We just got it through.”

Torrential rain fell during the delay but the grand final eventually kicked off at 3.20pm and Woori Yallock served it up to minor premiers Narre Warren.

It wasn’t until the final quarter that the Magpies got on top and won by 14 points, 9.18 (72) to 8.10 (58).

Narre Warren player Joshua Tonna. Picture: Valeriu Campan

An upset was on the cards when Woori Yallock led by 21 points late in the third term but Narre Warren kicked three late goals to cut Woori’s led to two points at three quarter-time.

Narre Warren finished hard, out scoring Woori 2.11 to 1.1 in the fourth term.

“They were fantastic,” Narre Warren coach Shane Dwyer said of Woori.

“They had a crack and luckily we had a bit more run in the legs at the end.”

Joshua Tonna and Mitchell Tonna were outstanding on the wings for the Magpies, hard and clean, while Hayden Stagg won the best-on-ground medal.

Playing just his second game in two months after dislocating and fracturing his shoulder, Jarrod Smith kicked two goals and was among Narre’s best players.

“He actually dislocated it in the grand final and it went back in,” Dwyer said.

“He’s a tough nut.”

Narre Warren coach Shane Dwyer. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Dwyer said he always felt the Magpies could overrun Woori Yallock.

“We got within two points at three quarter time and we felt that if were within two goals we hopefully would be able to run over the top of them,” he said.

“In the end they put all their numbers in our forward half and every time they got it out they kicked it straight back to us and we went back in.”

Narre Warren capped a dream season with eight of its nine teams (football and netball) winning premierships.

“It’s probably the biggest day the club’s ever had,” Dwyer said.

“We had a great night.

“Now it’s all about keeping them all together and having another go next year.”