Central Highlands: Gordon storms to premiership, end 34-year drought
Gordon’s wait for premiership glory has ended seven years after the ultimate heartbreak. See how the flag dream came to fruition.
Gordon coach Adam Toohey knew his team would win the Central Highlands Football League the night before his team delivered its drought-breaking win.
Gordon is celebrating its first premiership win in 34 years after defeating Springbank in the grand final by 65 points following years of near misses including the 2015 grand final loss.
“To see the happiness on so many people’s faces is unreal,” Toohey said.
“I’ve been pretty good, I hadn’t cried all game.
“Then I saw my grandad and I started crying and then I saw my dad and he was crying.
“To have a premiership with him (dad) now is unreal.”
His father, Neil, was part of the 1988 success, the club’s only previous flag.
It won its second premiership with a devastating second quarter, taking advantage of the breeze.
Gordon led at quarter time by one point, nullifying Springbank’s chances with the breeze first up.
Gordon then soared, kicking six goals to just one behind to lead by 40 points at half time.
Despite a third-quarter comeback from Springbank, which kicked three goals to one early, Gordon steadied to maintain a 33-point lead at the final change.
Two early final-quarter goals to Toohey, who kicked six for the match, put the game out of reach.
Gordon midfielder Mick Nolan won the medal for best on ground.
UPPER MURRAY
Tumbarumba went on a final term goal kicking rampage on Saturday to clinch its first Upper Murray league premiership since back-to-back grand final wins in 2012-13.
In tough conditions at Tumbarumba, the home team coasted to the flag with a 36-point victory against Cudgewa after dropping only one game in a dominant season.
Captain Jim Waters claimed a slice of history in becoming the only Tumbarumba player to feature in all three premierships won by the club which only started playing in the Upper Murray league in 1971.
Fittingly, Waters kicked the first goal of the final term from a free kick to trigger a last quarter avalanche after Cudgewa closed the gap to 16 points at three quarter time.
Cudgewa’s Kylin Morey responded soon after with his fifth goal of the match before a succession of goals from Tyler Lampe, who finished with six goals, Daniel Hitchens and James Crozier for Tumbarumba.
Waters and teammate Jacob Reed tied for the Upper Murray league best and fairest and they were dominant players in the grand final win along with Mitch Palmer.
The trio previously played together at Lavington with Reed winning the medal for best-on-ground.
“They really came at us,” he said.
“We had to slog it out to the end.
“We got a bit of a roll on in the last quarter which really helped.
“I’m loving footy again and I’ve grown to love the club up here.
“They are a great bunch of people.”
Cudgewa kicked the first goal of the match with a brilliant conversion from near the boundary by Michael Voight, but from then on Tumbarumba clicked into gear.
Morey was clearly Cudgewa’s best player ahead of Jack McInerney, Mitchell Pynappels, Craig Lieschke and Darcy McKimmie.
Long-serving Tumbarumba president Mont Waters had two sons playing in the grand final, Jim and Henry, with the latter recovering from a heavy knock early in the game.
“It’s reward for effort,” Mont said.
“We had been the best team all year.
“The wet weather played into their hands, but 24 shots to nine tells the story.”
MID GIPPSLAND
Yinnar completed a fairytale grand final win against Newborough on Saturday that required the eventual premiers needing to win its last three home and away matches just to qualify for finals.
Yinnar claimed the last finals spot on offer by beating Morwell East in the final round and then won four successive finals to win the premiership.
“Obviously we’re stoked,” Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said.
“The boys are fantastic with the effort they put in.
“I couldn’t be prouder.
“In the second quarter we really ramped it up and got on top.
“The rest is history.”
But Yinnar went a long way towards winning the flag in the first quarter when it defended brilliantly against the breeze.
Harry McColl was stationed behind the ball and continually blunted Newborough’s forward thrusts.
Yinnar then banged on four goals to nil in the second quarter to lead by 18 points at halftime and rallied again in the last term after Newborough grabbed a one-point lead at the final change.
Ned Marsh played a starring role for Yinnar and Callum Shiels overcame an injury concern to take his place in the premiership winning line-up.
Luke Webber, Liam Cordner and Zachary Skinner were named best for Newborough.
LODDON VALLEY
Superboot Brandyn Grenfell has capped off a brilliant season by kicking nine goals in Marong’s crushing 94-point win against Bridgewater to land its first flag since 1989.
Grenfell is the leading goalkicker in the state and his day out against Bridgewater took his season tally to 154, a new Loddon Valley league record.
The demolition began in the first quarter when Marong raced to a 43-point lead in keeping Bridgewater scoreless.
The margin blew out to 68-points at halftime with Grenfell having seven of his nine goals to the long break.
Bridgewater also went goalless in the third term.
“We were all over them,” Grenfell said.
“It’s been a ripping year.
“It’s been 33 years and there are a lot of happy people.”
Marong had star midfield players in Corey Gregg and Jimmy Gadsden and Richard Tibbett was on fire on his wing.
Ruckman Justin Hynes was also a dominant force.
Bridgewater’s bid to have midfielder Alex Pollock play in the grand final was unsuccessful after appealing a two-match suspension for striking in the preliminary final last week.
SUNRAYSIA
Irymple withstood a final term surge from Wentworth to win a second successive Sunraysia league premiership by six points at Mildura.
Irymple had the upper hand early when it led by 17 points at quarter time and eventually prevailed in a low scoring grand final.
The Irymple halfback line of Zac Wandin, Justin Robinson and Nando Cirillo was pivotal in the victory with Mitchell Roads also playing at centre half-forward.
Small forward Nick Pezzaniti was ultimately the difference between the two teams.
He kicked five goals including two crucial goals in the final quarter when Wentworth had closed to within striking distance.
Irymple also overcome its share of injury concerns.
Co-coach Daniel Coghlan returned from a broken ankle in the preliminary final last week and was a serviceable performer.
Nathan Hamence and Nick Mee also battled through calf and hamstring injuries respectively to bob up with some important contributions at crucial stages.
Wentworth’s Jackson Ferguson won the John Groves Medal for best-on-ground and league best and fairest runner-up Andrew Wall also played well.
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