Cheltenham’s Oliver Moran on his spectacular Southern Division 1 grand final performance

Oliver Moran’s last-quarter heroics led Cheltenham to a famous Southern Division 1 premiership. We chart his performance and whether higher footy beckons for the young gun.

Oliver Moran.

He was overlooked.

He didn’t stand out.

Oliver Moran tried his luck at a VFL pre-season last year where he was given the feedback that he didn’t shine among a herd of similar players.

He says some of the feedback – specifically on his fitness – was at times justified, but his confidence was low and he needed to return to Southern league power Cheltenham.

Since returning, he has grown into one the Southern league’s brightest young players and feels he has “left a few stones unturned” at VFL level.

“I definitely believe there’s something a bit further for me,” he says.

“Hopefully – if the opportunity comes – I will be able to give it another crack and have more maturity and professionalism about the process.

“I think I might’ve left a few stones unturned last year and I don’t want to make that same mistake again.

“This year if I go, I will keep at it and be a bit more disciplined between the season and starting up again.”

Oliver Moran was relentless in his attack on the footy on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Moran kicks during the season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Despite not winning the best-afield medal in Saturday’s grand final, Moran was named Cheltenham’s best and earned high praise from rival clubs watching on.

The Rosellas came from 25 points down during the final term in a four-goal frenzy that secured their first Division 1 title in 89 years.

One of Moran’s aims for the season was to influence forward of the footy, and his wobbly left-foot snap late in the fourth quarter certainly did that.

Although he edged the Rosellas into favoritism, he says they believed from Rex Kilburn’s goal on the third-quarter siren.

“I was still dwelling on the miss from a few minutes earlier, so I put up a bit of a prayer there and I think the footy gods owed us a couple,” he says.

“I honestly think the goal just before the three-quarter time siren was all we needed, that was only our second or third of the day.

“We always talk about scoreboard nourishment; we just needed to see one go through.

“Once that happened we took a lot of belief into the last quarter, there were ups and downs in the last quarter, but we knew if we could string a couple together we would have enough legs, enough energy.

“We always believed we could do it if we kicked straight.”

The scenes in the Cheltenham rooms post game were remarkable. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It’s been 89 long years for the Rosellas. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Those footy gods must have been on the Rosellas’ side after back-to-back grand final defeats, as their four goals came in as many minutes to follow a horror display of goal kicking.

Moran says the finish is only just sinking in.

“It’s just starting to become believable,” he says.

“Everyone says you want to believe you’re always a chance but I definitely thought it was getting pretty dire and it was going to take something special.

“Something special it was.”

He laughed off outside suggestions that he was robbed of the best-afield medallion, awarded to star midfielder Dylan Weickhardt, saying he left Linton St with exactly what he came for.

“Personal achievements are always great but I went out there to get one thing and I came home with it,” he says.

“The bonus would’ve been nice but I was out there for the premiership and I got it, I couldn’t be happier.”