Belmont Lions breaks 23-year premiership drought in thrilling 39-37 win over Thomson as Molly Gribble stars
Belmont Lions lost by 43 a fortnight ago to Thomson. But the brilliance of Molly Gribble and a side in their first season together spectacularly turned the tables.
A Molly Gribble inspired-Belmont Lions broke its 23-year Geelong & District premiership drought in dramatic fashion, stunning Thomson 39-37 in a thriller at St Albans.
Minor premiers Thomson thrashed the Belmont 68-25 a fortnight ago in their second semi-final clash ago and had lost just two games for the season.
But the Lions turned the tables spectacularly to knock off the Tigers – just as they did in round 13 – capping a fairytale first year in maroon, blue and gold for playing coach Shayna Brown after crossing from Corio.
With back-to-back Margaret Webb Medals to her name, Gribble added a best-on-court to her mantelpiece as she led Belmont Lions to premiership for the first time since 2002 with a fantastic mid-court display.
Brown was full of emotion after the historic win.
“You can’t really read about that. You hear teams lose by 40 something goals and you’d be lucky to lose by 20 (in the grand final),” Brown remarked in awe.
“I’m glad I was able to achieve (a premiership) at Belmont. I tried for about seven years at Corio, because Corio’s last one was 2003.
“So I knew when I come across to Belmont, we had the talent, and it was just trying to make the girls gel and form those nice combinations, because we were a new side.
“It’s f---en unreal! Sorry, I tried not to swear,” she added with a laugh.
“It’s a very big family club. The boys support the girls, the girls support the boys, and I knew this bunch had it in them. So I’m so bloody proud of them.
“Like to beat Thomson in round 13, I knew this bunch had it – and I can’t believe I’m a bloody champion.”
The Lions trailed 20-18 at halftime but burst out of the blocks with a 6-1 run to start the third quarter, which the Tigers brought back to a two-goal deficit at the three-quarter-time.
Belmont shot out to a six goal lead in the last as the Lions consistently got stops and made it count up the other end.
However, the Tigers didn’t give up without a fight, getting within two goals again before time ran out, the final whistle bringing tears of joy and devastation.
Remarkably, Belmont’s premiership side featured a handful of players in their first season at the club.
A playing coach for seven years at Corio previously, Brown lured Gribble and goalkeeper Sophie Trezise to Belmont from the Devils, and recruited goaler Ella Wasik from Bannockburn — who shot 23 goals at 82 per cent accuracy in the grand final — and Zoe Saunders from St Albans.
Brown was full of praise for her partner in crime Gribble, the pair attached at the hip for most of their career.
The premiership coach said Gribble shares the same competitive streak as her brother, two-time Liston medallist and former Werribee VFL star Tom.
“That girl, speechless,” Brown said.
“I’ve known Molly for a long time, I played with her back at Geelong West days. And we had a bit of a bit of a break, she went to St Mary’s, I went to South Barwon.
“And then I recruited her to Corio four years ago originally, and then she’s been stuck with me ever since. I kind of joke about it now, ‘We’re a packaged deal’, because wherever I go, she goes – or wherever she goes, I go!
“She is a workhorse, she will give 150% even if she’s in pain. And she does anything for you.
“Sometimes she can come across as white line fever, but that’s just Molly. Her brother Tom Gribble, he’s the same. They just worked so hard, she’s a big engine for us.”
Brown’s young son, Harrison got a little too close to Gribble as the celebrations were erupting and took a tumble.
“He fell over. He just likes to get amongst it, he wanted a lolly I think it was,” Brown said with a smile.
Brown referencing GDFNL president Neville Whitley when she loudly declared: “We are going to the pub and Neville’s shout!”
And when the cup was presented, Gribble channelled Hawthorn legend Shane Crawford when she grabbed the mic and yelled, “That’s what I’m talking about!”
However, it was Belmont co-captain Angelique Ross who received the biggest cheer, after she sat out he grand final with an ACL rupture suffered in their 43-goal loss to Thomson a fortnight ago.
EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER
It was an emotional rollercoaster for Thomson coach Shannon Leach on Saturday.
Before her side’s narrow A-grade loss, she tasted premiership glory as a player in B-grade, the Tigers overcoming Inverleigh 26-21.
Leach had to be helped onto the stage post-game after her Achilles failed her in the dying minutes of the match.
“It was really hard actually. We were so excited after the B grade game and then to get into it in the A grade game, we were all on a high and I think it’s mixed emotions a bit, which is a challenge.”
Leach wasn’t the only wounded Tiger during the presentations, with centre Ebony Harris unable to open her eye after copping an accidental finger from a Belmont Lions player late in the grand final.
The Tigers coach was proud of her side’s rise from ninth last season, but there was a sense that they had let a golden opportunity slip.
Leach felt the week off might have worked against them.
“They’ve literally gone from strength to strength each week, I was really impressed. I couldn’t ask for any more, the season that they had was phenomenal, but I think potentially having that week off, it’s hard,” Leach said.
“It’s a challenge, so it’s not an excuse, but it’s tough.
“They’ve fought so hard to get here today, they fought themselves back into the game, only lost by a couple in the end which I’m pretty proud with – they didn’t give up.
“But we just didn’t step up.
“That third quarter, they made a couple of changes and we didn’t probably adapt as quick as what we should. And when we were on our way back, it was probably a bit too late.”
Originally published as Belmont Lions breaks 23-year premiership drought in thrilling 39-37 win over Thomson as Molly Gribble stars
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