What a team, what a club; Frankston YCW wins grand final by 102 points to complete four-peat
FRANKSTON YCW thrashed Bonbeach by 102 points in the Peninsula league grand final at Frankston Park on Sunday to claim its fourth consecutive premiership.
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FRANKSTON YCW cemented its status as a Peninsula league powerhouse, thrashing Bonbeach by 102 points in the 2017 grand final at Frankston Park on Sunday to claim its fourth consecutive premiership.
Ruthless yet clinical, the Stonecats slammed on eight goals in the second quarter and 10 in the last to win 21.11 (137) to 5.5 (35).
YC’s meagre return of 1.2 in the opening quarter gave no indication of the domination that was to come.
Champion defender Byron Barry, 32, in his 150th game, set the standard with a wholehearted four-quarter performance that earned him the medal for best-on-ground.
The Stonecats’ exciting youngsters were at the heart of the victory, running rings around Bonbeach, with Josh Butland booting five goals, Luke Paynter two and Matt La Fontaine providing run and drive.
Impressive youngster Michael Debenham snapped a goal in the second term as YCW got on a roll.
A stunning eight-goal burst in the second term effectively ended the game as a contest at halftime by which time YC had doubled Bonbeach’s score, 70-35, and it became party time in the last quarter as the YCW machine cranked into top gear.
Butland booted three goals in the term and set up another with a bullet pass to Anthony Bruhn who finished with four goals.
Frankston YCW coach Wayne Capp, a premiership coach in his very first season at the helm, said his brilliant side peaked on the most important day of the season.
“We waited until this game to put it all together,’’ he said.
“It was probably the best team we’d put together all year, with guys (back from) playing VFL and injuries. But it’s definitely the best we’ve played all year, for sure.’’
Capp said it was a plan to win the toss and kick into a slight breeze towards the bay end in the opening quarter. It meant that his side would come home with the wind, and that’s exactly what happened as the breeze strengthened.
At the other end of the age scale, YC’s decorated champions lapped up more premiership glory; Ash Eames was again pivotal in the ruck and even had time to wave to friends in the crowd in the last quarter, 35-year-old Tony Lester didn’t waste a possession, Bundy Barry’s class and attack shone and no-frills Craig Nankervis, who has played in a record eight flags, again played his role.
Bonbeach was so impressive in last week’s preliminary final but the Sharks weren’t allowed to get their running game going.
It was YC’s day, its season. What a team. What a club.
Frankston YCW has won eight premierships this century — 2003, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12, ‘14, ‘15, ’16 and ’17.
The Stonecats also won the Under 19s premiership, beating Mt Eliza by 12 points, 6.13 (49) to 4.13 (37). In the reserves, Mt Eliza beat Seaford by 40 points, 10.14 (74) to 5.4 (34) to claim its fourth successive flag.
Frankston YCW 1.2, 9.3, 11.4, 21.11 (137) d Bonbeach 2.0, 3.3, 5.5, 5.5 (35).
Goal Kickers: J. Butland 5, A. Bruhn 4, L. Wallace 3, P. Minchington 2, L. Paynter 2, L. Williams 2, A. Barry, M. Debenham, T. Lester.
Best Players: B. Barry, A. Barry, A. Bruhn, J. Butland, K. Hutchison, T. Lester.
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