Outer East league: Rousing rev-up helps Powelltown take flag

An unplanned rev-up from Powelltown’s last premiership coach helped the Demons snap a 33-year flag drought. Here’s how they celebrated.

It was nearly game time and Powelltown’s change rooms were buzzing with nervous energy.

The Demons were about to play in their first grand final in 31 years.

A knock on the door interrupted the tension.

It was Trevor Barker, the man who coached Powelltown to its last premiership in 1989.

He made a beeline for Powelltown playing-coach Jarrod Bayliss and politely asked, “would you mind if I said a few words to the boys?”

Bayliss didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely,” he said.

And with that, Barker introduced himself to the players, looked them in the eye and spoke from the heart.

“It’s time to pass the baton on,’’ he told them.

“We want you to enjoy what we enjoyed.’’

Powelltown's 1989 premiership coach Trevor Barker.

Barker then clicked into coach mode.

“Leave no stone unturned,” he said firmly.

“Grab this opportunity.”

Barker also spoke of the importance of playing for each other, “looking your mate in the eye’' and “going the distance to get the job done”.

It was stirring stuff.

“That wasn’t even planned,” Bayliss said.

“I didn’t realise he was coming.

“He stuck his head in and said, ‘can I have a chat to the boys?’

“It was really good.”

Powelltown rushed to a 20-point half-time lead over Kinglake and then clung on to win 12.19 (91) to 12.9 (81) at Healesville.

The Demons’ drought was over.

“All the stars aligned,” Bayliss said.

“We nearly kicked ourselves out of it, let’s be honest, 19 points.”

Bayliss was brilliant, gathering 32 possessions, nine marks, nine clearances, five inside 50s and kicked two goals.

He won the medal for best on ground.

Joel Perry kicked three goals and Michael Fowkes two, while Garry Sheppard, Ben Wratten and Matthew McArthur were also among the Demons best.

Powelltown’s celebrations started immediately and went for three days.

“We had a big few days,” Bayliss said on Wednesday.

“It was a really, really special night Sunday night.

“Just so many supporters and sponsors, they were all at the club. Everyone got to enjoy it.”

The local butchers with the premiership cup. Picture: Facebook

Powelltown president Geoff Mooney took the premiership cup on a tour around town on Tuesday, visiting club sponsors and allowing them to get their hands on the silverware.

And they loved it.

All partied out, Bayliss said he couldn’t even look at a beer on Wednesday.

“I’m done. I reckon I’m done until Christmas,” he said.

“I didn’t have a beer for the whole month leading up to finals.”

The cup visited the Sawmill. Picture: Facebook

Bayliss’s said Powelltown’s side would stick together and shoot for more success next season, although 40-year-old playing assistant coach Josh Taylor has hung up the boots, going out on a wonderful high.

“He’s been a great mate of mine,” Bayliss said.

“We got one more year out of him at 40 and he snuck himself another premiership.

“He’s been an incredible human. Everything he’s done he’s always supported me the last five or six years.”

Bayliss also praised Kelvin Moore, the former Richmond player who ran Powelltown’s bench.

“I couldn’t have got the job without him,” he said.

“Being a playing coach you need guys on the sidelines to support you. And the support of those two guys. Obviously their knowledge of football, they’ve both been around a long time, we had a fair bit of experience along with Joel Perry as well who was an assistant coach.

“They were just level heads.”