VAFA: St Bede’s Mentone won its first match in 301 days at the weekend

St Bede’s Mentone’s brigade of kids finally got their reward with a drought-breaking win. Coach Brad Berry talks through the emotion, how they did it and how it’s the start of bigger plans.

St Bede's Mentone is on the board. Picture: Jam_visuals.

St Bede’s Mentone coach Brad Berry noted the circle of newcomers singing the team song rivalled the size of the outer circle.

He says that speaks volumes to the future of the club.

The Tigers snapped an almost year-long drought with an excellent win over Caulfield Grammarians, 12.12 (84) to 10.9 (69).

St Bede’s Mentone skipped away after a tight first quarter, kicking nine of the next 12 goals to shatter its 301-day drought.

Berry said the 15-minutes post-game were reward, incentive and reinforcement for what the Tigers have been building towards.

“An away game in those conditions and suddenly the room is full with jubilant people wanting to be a part of the classic winning feeling,” Berry said.

“Unfortunately you can’t bottle that 15 minutes after the game, it’s one of the reasons you play community footy.

“It’s a little bit of reward but it’s also incentive and reinforcement for what they’re buying into, that what we’ve been measuring improvement with actually all makes sense.

“When you’re getting close but you are still losing, it’s human nature to question it, so it’s more acknowledgment and credit to a young group for sticking with something they believe will be successful long term.”

St Bede's is on the board. Picture: Jam_visuals.

Jake Harding, Jack Behnk (three goals), Matthew Lehpamer, Jake Ryder and “King of the Kids” Josh Cowan were all superb.

The Grammarians put time into Melbourne Category B Rookie Kyah Farris-White but he responded with a huge second half.

“They put some work into him (Farris-White), he was tested, but we identified if we could win at contest and get it to outside, we could move the ball quickly,” Berry said.

“Kyah was able to give our mids first use and I thought he really responded, which is great for him for the next level because it’s not always easy.

“Jake Harding has really settled into a role and is starting to get accolades now, he is a pleasure to coach, he will rep the big V in the under-19s side.

“I think I told anyone who would listen after the Trinity game that we had nine or 10 players still eligible for under-19s playing, so the future is absolutely bright.”

Tigers fans cheer through a goal.

Berry sees “the ingredient every coach is after” at the Tigers and is hopeful Saturday’s win is the start of something special.

“We’re building something,” he said.

“I think the best example is that someone came in Thursday and said ‘if you hadn’t of told us you were 0-10 we wouldn’t know … there’s 55 on the track plus 50 under-19s’.

“I think the players are enjoying it, that’s the ingredient every coach is after, if we can keep that going then gradually the on-field success will follow it.”