WRFL: Point Cook Centrals win Division 2 premiership

Point Cook Centrals completed an undefeated season with the WRFL Division 2 premiership as a young gun booted five.

The pressure came and Point Cook Centrals delivered.

Many expected the Sharks to romp to victory against Parkside in the WRFL Division 2 grand final but the day didn’t play out as many people had expected.

In the end, the Sharks broke through for the second premiership in club history 10.4 (64) to 7.6 (48) in a pulsating encounter at Yarraville Oval.

A five-goal to one third term with the breeze at their back proved pivotal for the Sharks who finished the season undefeated.

Parkside threatened to do the unthinkable until a fifth goal from best on ground Lachlan Grant in the last term all but sealed the result.

Point Cook Centrals celebrate the flag.

Opposition clubs and supporters had been critical of the team the Sharks had been built.

But with all of the pressure on them they delivered much to the relief of coach Dean Chambers.

“They’ve been through a lot this year, they’ve had a lot of knockers,” he said.

“Even the new guys who came to the club, pre-season people got a little bit verbal with them but they took it in their stride.

“The pressure no doubt built, each week we rolled on — 16-0, 17-0, 18-0. I don’t care what anyone says I think I’ve had about 50 conversations with people about the unbeaten team who got beaten in the grand final.

Parkside held a surprise one-point lead at halftime largely thanks to a brilliant first term where they kicked three goals against the breeze.

Mitch Palma and Luke Henderson celebrate the flag.

Although Point Cook Centrals kicked three of their own in the second.

The pressure from the Magpies was a highlight of their performance throughout the afternoon.

“Feel credit to Parkside, they competed the game similar to the way we play,” Chambers said.

“The ball was bouncing their way at times and they were cleaner at times. We didn’t expect (Shaun) Campbell to go back but by doing that they tried not letting us to get the hot start.

“We thought we’d hang in there until halftime and reset then. People are going to talk about our third quarter but our second quarter with the way we held firm when they had their tails up was critical.

“We didn’t go over the top at halftime in the rooms. We’ve got a thing with apples, oranges and tomatoes, the boys all know the language so we didn’t panic.

“To their credit, the players drove the language at halftime, I didn’t have to say too much.

“We just stuck to the process.”

Grant, who took home the best on ground medal, proved he was a man for the big moments.

He kicked the first goal of the game with a brilliant snap, saluting the crowd as he kicked truly.

Chambers couldn’t hide his love for his star forward.

“He wouldn’t look out of place serving hamburgers at the hamburger stand and I mean no disrespect by that. He’s an unassuming footballer,” he said.

“He’s just a loveable kid, you’re just attracted to him. The kid’s got some smarts about his play. He has got great balance and just holds his feet.

“Some of those goals today were sensational, especially the one in the last quarter, on an angle with the breeze going away.

“He’s been one of the glues, one of the new kids on the block.

“He just finds a way.”

Co-captains Kurt Mayne and Nathan Williams with coach Dean Chambers.

Corey Vandermeer, one of the unsung heroes of the Sharks’ win also won praise from his coach.

“Real hard on the wing, kept his head over it all day,” Chambers said.

“He won some really big 50/50s.

With the premiership trophy in the cabinet at Shark Park, Chambers and his side look ahead to the next big challenge.

Division 1 footy.

“We were specific in the recruiting path we had, targeting guys who were between 23 and 25,” he said.

“We want those guys to be around the club for years to come. Now we look forward to what’s ahead.”

Kurt Mayne and Jesse Bruce were instrumental in defence for the Sharks while Nathan Williams and Mitch Palma found plenty of the footy.

For Parkside, Shaun Campbell, Jackson Barrett and Sam Dukic played strong roles.