Berwick’s drought-breaking 30-point victory over Cranbourne was still sinking in when the Gazette’s DAVID NAGEL caught up with some of the winning players after the match.
FORMER West Coast Eagle Ash Smith may have played at the highest level of the game but winning this year’s premiership rated right up there as one of his greatest achievements.
“It’s up there mate, winning premierships is what it’s all about, you can’t get any better than that,” he said.
“I didn’t get one in the AFL so this tops everything I suppose. It’s bloody awesome. As people have said this club has come from a long way back five years ago to get to this point, there are some people behind the scenes that have done it tough; it’s great to win it for them.
“We let them (Cranbourne) get loose at the contested ball in the second quarter and they started to spread from there, but we rectified that in the third quarter, we stopped them, and we rebounded from their mistakes.”
Big-man Mick Manley just couldn’t believe he had finished his career in the best possible way.
“It’s unbelievable, an unbelievable way to go out,” he said.
“I came to Berwick two years ago just to have a kick, but these guys pushed me to give them a chop out in the ones, and they’ve pretty much carried an old bloke over the line.
“I’m married, so I can’t say it’s the greatest day of my life, but I pretty much owe everything to Rhys and the coaching staff who had a lot of faith in me and kept pushing me and told me I was a valuable part of the side. I’m just speechless right now; this is the best feeling, unbelievable.”
And wingman Tom Brennan.
“It’s fantastic; we always knew we had the legs in us at the end of the day and I’m just glad all the boys did their jobs in the biggest game of the year,” he said.
“It’s amazing, the best day of my life.”
Talented half-forward Ben Kearns backed up his Gippsland League premiership with Morwell from last year with another. He has been inaccurate during this year’s finals series but his four goals on the biggest stage of all were vitally important to the win.
“I probably cost us a bit the last couple of games, so to get on the end of a couple and watch them sail through the big-sticks felt pretty good today,” he said.
“I couldn’t be more grateful to come to a great club like this and I couldn’t be more rapt for the boys. Cranbourne is a great side, they’ve been the premier side of the competition all year, but we knew if we just stuck to our game plan and worked hard the result would take care of itself.”
Jayden Joyce, who joins his brother Taylor (Beaconsfield 2014) as a premiership player, had the biggest task on the ground, trying to stop Cranbourne champion Marc Holt.
“I was a little bit nervous but it’s all paid off in the end,” Joyce said.
“He’s such a champion, sometimes you’ve just got to do your best and hope he doesn’t mark it. The midfield was awesome today, especially in that second half, they were unbelievable and they helped the back six out massively.”
Full-forward Mitch Johnson was simply basking in Berwick’s greatest day.
“It’s unreal, four from four, you can’t ask for any better. The boys fought and fought and Cranbourne just kept coming and coming. To lose to them three times this year and then to step up, it’s just an amazing feeling.”
Youngster Jayden Goumas was over the moon.
“This is the best feeling in the whole world, I can’t believe it, still hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said.
“When that siren went, words can’t describe how happy it makes you feel. I played juniors at Berwick and always dreamed of playing in a senior premiership, and now it’s happened, I couldn’t be happier.”
Goumas said starting in the midfield with co-captains Madi Andrews and Michael Harold made his job a hell of a lot easier.
“Honestly, I just look up to those guys so much, they’re inspirational, they’re the engine room of the team, and they spark us every week,” he said. “To share it with blokes like that, it’s just awesome, unbelievable really.”
As for defender Michael Johnson, his dad Matt may have had a longer career at Berwick but the new premiership hero was quick to make a point.
“Yeah, he had a great career but the one thing he never did at the footy club was win a flag, so it feels pretty good to finally get one up on him,” he said.
“Cranbourne can score quickly, we knew that going in, but we just had to hold our nerve, do what we wanted to do and not panic, and we did that well today.
“The last grand final I was supposed to be involved in (with Mazenod) I was suspended, so this is unreal. After the year we’ve had, as a club, and as a family, it’s great to have a win and pay all the supporters and volunteers back.”
The spark for the Wickers in the third quarter came from livewire forward Brody Connelly, who was playing school footy last year.
“I came to Berwick in Under 13s and stayed until 18s, then last year in Year 12 played a bit of school footy at Haileybury,” he said.
“I was buggered with injuries, kept doing hamstrings, and I did another one this year, so it’s just great to come back to Berwick and play seniors. It’s unbelievable mate … just beautiful.”
And the final say, well it just has to go to club stalwart Paul Vanschilt.
“Brilliant, just brilliant mate, it’s absolutely sensational,” he said. “I just wanted to get on the ground for the final siren; it’s the best feeling ever. I love this club and love everyone who has anything to do with it. This is what it’s all about … it’s just brilliant.”
