Outer East league: Powelltown blasts into grand final in Division 2
A tiny town in the Yarra Ranges is bursting with pride after its football side won through to its first grand final since 1991. Here’s how they did it.
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“Everyone thinks we’re old and slow,” said Powelltown playing-coach Jarrod Bayliss after the Demons stormed home to beat Kinglake by 23 points in Sunday’s Outer East league Division 2 second semi-final.
Finally, the Demons are back in the big dance; they will play off in their first senior grand final since 1991.
With a pep in their step, Powelly — after trailing by 10 points — piled on 5.3 while keeping Kinglake scoreless in the final quarter to win 11.9 (75) to 7.10 (52) at Healesville.
Defenders Mitch Cadusch and Nathan Moody were named Powelltown’s best, while veteran Chris Moreland ignited the Demons with a last-term masterclasss, highlighted by a goal on the run from 50.
In the rooms after the game there were tears of joy as it sunk in: Powelltown’s 31-year wait to play in another granny was over.
“There were plenty of tears after the game and plenty of excitement,” Bayliss said.
“But we’ve woken up Monday morning and I’ve sent the boys a message saying it’s about re focusing now.
“We’ve got a job to do so we will prepare the best we can and control what we can.”
The Demons will have almost two weeks to prepare for a tilt at their first premiership since 1989.
They’ll play the winner of next Sunday’s preliminary final between Kinglake and Yarra Junction.
Only about 200 people live in Powelltown, but red and blue colours are sure to start popping up around town as grand final fever builds.
Powelltown footy club has had its ups and downs over the past three decades.
It went into recess in 2006 when it sat out the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League season, citing a lack of players.
The committee stayed strong and the Demons rose again, with former North Melbourne star Phil Krakouer coaching Powelltown out of recess.
The club has produced a number of AFL players including Sean Charles (Melbourne), Daniel Hargraves (Western Bulldogs and Fremantle) and its most famous AFL product, West Coast premiership player David Wirrpanda, a member of Powelltown’s 1992 under-18 premiership.
Bayliss, who coached Park Orchards to a flag in 2017, said Powelltown has the fire in the belly to go all the way this season.
“We’re ready for whatever anyone throws at us,” he said.
Bayliss said his Demons showed how much they want to create history during their win over Kinglake.
“The boys’ efforts, like in every contest everyone was just right on their man, there was definitely some fire in the belly,” he said.
“It was bloody great.”
Joel Dagher, Sam Meadows and Josh Johnson were also among Powelltown’s best players, while former North Melbourne forward Joel Perry kicked three goals to go to 71 for the season.
Michael Fowkes was also pivotal at centre half-forward, kicking two goals.
Bayliss was full of praise for his entire team.
“Our defence did jobs down back on their forwards who had been winning games for them,” he said.
“That really set us up.
“Michael Fowkes was huge at centre half-forward and was pivotal in our ball movement.
“And Chrissy Moreland in the last quarter, his quality shone through, the boy from Geelong ...he was a shining start in the last quarter, he kicked a goal from 50 on the run and was really strong one on one inside fifty late. He just got us going.”
Bayliss said Powelltown showed it can handle the big ground at Healesville, where the grand final will be played.
“To have the legs in the last quarter to run over the top of them, it’s just a really, really pleasing effort,” he said.
“In finals footy it’s about the desire, it’s not always about the fitness, it’s about the desire and how hungry you are and hunger is what got us over the line in the end.”
In the elimination final, Yarra Junction finished hard to beat Warburton Millgrove by 24 points, 14.10 (94) to10.10 (70).
David Johnson kicked six goals for the winners, while Josh Hammen, Samuel Cannon, Timothy Peters, Luke Spaulding and Michael Brown were also among their best.
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