Benalla ends 42-year premiership drought with win against Kyabram

BENALLA ended a four-decade premiership drought by defeating Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley Football League grand final.

Goulburn Valley FL, Grand Final, Benalla Saints V Kyabram Bombers, Deakin Reserve, Shepparton, the winners, James Martiniello, 11, captain & Luke Morgan, 22, coach, Benalla Saints, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

BENALLA ended a four-decade premiership drought when it beat Kyabram by 59 points in the Goulburn Valley Football League grand final at Shepparton on Sunday.

The Saints dismantled Kyabram 16.16 (112) to 7.11 (53) to clinch their first flag since 1973, when they played in the Ovens and Murray league.

There would be no repeat of last year’s heartbreak, when the Saints won 20 games in a row to reach the decider undefeated, only to lose to Shepparton Swans by three points.

Benalla thrashes Kyabram

Despite three consecutive goals to Kyabram to end the second quarter, which whittled its halftime deficit back to 13 points, the Bombers went goalless in the first and third quarters — the latter effectively ending their premiership hopes.

Benalla slammed on four unanswered goals in the third term to take a 41-point lead into the final term.

The Saints’ midfield brigade swept the awards, with last year’s league best-and-fairest winner Will Martiniello named player of the finals series, while Sam Martyn won the AFL Victoria Country Medal and ruckman Josh Marchbank received the Wilf Cox Medal.

Playing coach Luke Morgan — who took the side from wooden spooners to premiers in three seasons — said the victory was a reward for the playing group and club, but also the town “that hasn’t had success for a long time”.

“The grand final last year still burns — and it always will — but it’s a great way to come back and (with) this playing group, who knows what’s possible in the next couple of years,” he said.