Wandin wins AFL Yarra Ranges Divison 1 flag against Woori Yallock

WANDIN has won the AFL Yarra Ranges Division 1 grand final in front of a crowd of more than 4500 people at Yarra Glen today.

Bulldogs’ day: Wandin won the 2018 AFL Yarra Ranges Division 1 grand final, defeating Woori Yallock.

WANDIN has won the AFL Yarra Ranges Division 1 grand final in front of a crowd of more than 4500 people at Yarra Glen today.

Wandin defeated Woori Yallock in the last country grand final of the year, and the first to be played on the AFL Grand Final holiday, 16.11 (107) to 9.16 (70).

It was Nick Rutley’s final game as Wandin’s coach and he said it was a “special moment”.

“The way we’ve done everything this year, it’s easy to justify after the event, but it’s just worked,” he said.

Rutley was also relieved after the win, as Woori Yallock threatened a comeback in the fourth term.

Wandin took a 47-point lead into the final change after kicking four unanswered goals in the third term.

But the margin came back to 26 points during the last quarter.

“There was a bit of carry on at three-quarter time, I think the boys thought it was done and dusted and even some of our supporters,” Rutley said.

“When (Woori Yallock) kicked those, I think it was, four in a row in the last quarter I started to lose the plot a little bit.

“Not until the end did I let it all wash over.”

Wandin captain Robert Ross won the best player award while Justin Van Unen starred with six goals for the match, four in the second half.

Rutley was holding himself together in the last quarter as the Bulldogs closed in on the premiership, the club’s second in four years following its 2015 success.

But a familiar face helped bring Rutley to tears as the result became clear.

“My dad decided to come and tear up right next to the box,” Rutley said.

“I was refusing to go near him because I knew if I looked at him, I’d go, and that’s what happened.

“They’re a fantastic group of people. I’m a relationships-type of coach so I’ve invested so much time into the boys — that’s the by-product, you get a little bit teary at some stage.”

Woori Yallock’s Robert Allen was reported in the second quarter for striking Clinton Johnston.