Kangaroos storm to flag

Division 1 Under 18 premiers, Officer. 198090

By Tyler Lewis and Nick Creely

OUTER EAST FOOTBALL

DIVISION 1 GRAND FINAL REVIEW – OTHER GRADES

With a three-goal deficit at the final break, and not scoring for the third term with an injury rattled bench – the Officer Senior Football Club under 18s had no right to be arm-in-arm belting out the song 25 minutes later.

But after a stirring final term where the Kangaroos kept Pakenham scoreless, Officer became a worthy winner of the first piece of football silverware for the day.

Pakenham got off to a fiery start with Jake Goddard looming as the cool head at half-forward by snagging the first major and setting up the second before the Kangaroos had troubled the scorers.

But when the game opened up in transition, the Roos threatened to be dangerous with their darting ball movement.

Tyler Booth slotted Officer’s first before Lachlan Carr kicked their second and loved every bit of it as he tried to get the blue and white crowd involved.

A late goal to Pakenham had the Lions take a handy buffer into the main break, but with the wind pushing towards the Lions’ end in the opening term, the Roos had settled into the match well after a nervy start.

The Roos kicked the first before the Lions kicked a handy reply late in the second to hold the same nine-point margin that stood at the first interval.

The third term begun to unravel for the Roos when Carr – who booted four last week against Monbulk – landed harshly on the Woori Yallock turf.

Squirming in pain, Carr was certain to be out from the remainder of the match but as he rose to his feet the crowd erupted in awe of his bravery.

Moments later a courageous Carr returned to throw himself into another marking contest, trying desperately to will his side over the line, but unfortunately for the electric forward, that contest was his last for the day as the pain on his shoulder proved unbearable.

Gathering at the final huddle of the season, the Roos trailed by 17 points and having not scored in the second half so far, a fast start was crucial.

A quick goal ignited a bit of belief among the Officer crowd before Riley Clark emerged from the contested stoppage to thump home another major to assert the Roos as the favourite to run away with the match.

Brad Little was herculean in the middle as he found the footy at will in the final term.

A late push free kick and goal placed the Roos in front with a stupendous amount of momentum.

But with only ten minutes passed on the clock, Officer still had a fight on their hands as the Lions weren’t going to give it away without a fight.

The defenders held firm, the midfielders tireless and the forwards efficient as the Roos hung on for a historical premiership win, 7.4 (46) to 6.7 (43).

Roos coach Glenn Robinson told the Gazette he was proud of his group’s will to win after struggling to keep touch with the Lions for the first three quarters, putting it down to the bond formed with his players and the mateship that’s been created.

“I suppose even at 18 years of age they showed some great maturity, and to hold on in the last eight minutes after that comeback was pretty sweet,” he said.

“A couple of weeks ago I got a bit emotional with the players, they all come up to me and we all had a hug, and that bond probably formed a couple weeks ago was stronger than ever, and we were able to pull it together at the right time.”

Robinson said that the most important part of the win was taking away the Lions’ biggest asset, which is to run and carry and take the game on.

“Pakenham are a really good running side, and that was our aim, just to put pressure on for four quarters, and then our forward pressure had to be enormous to keep it in for our forwards, so I guess that was our number one thing, and in the end they didn’t like it,” he said.

Robinson – who said his entire group just lifted at the big moments – heaped special praise on best on ground medalist, Brad Little, who played with an elbow injury to be the dominant figure, particularly late.

“Funny story, he’s always played at quite a high level, and he decided to come back to Officer to play in practice match, and wanted that mateship, so we were lucky in the respect,” he said.

“To play with an injured arm, and push through the pain and play a game like that was pretty amazing.”

Under 18 best on ground, Brad Little from Officer.
198090

In the reserves grand final between Mount Evelyn and Pakenham, another scoreless final term cost the leading side, and this time the Lions were on the winning end of the telling comeback, 10.7 (67) to 9.4 (58).

The Lions trailed the Rovers at the conclusion of every stanza but a breathtaking six goals in the final term saw them add their first trophy of the day to Toomuc Reserve.

The Lions trailed by 25-points late in the third term, but vital major only moments before the three quarter time siren brought them within reach.

Slamming home the first few goals to bring it within a kick in only a matter of minutes into the final term, the Lions were looking unstoppable with plenty of run in their legs.

Matthew Ryan’s fourth major was his most important for the day as it put his side in front.

With only minutes left, the Rovers set up for one more crack at stealing the match from the Lions, but crucial marks from Jackson Berry and Steven Wright assured the anxious Pakenham bench they were about to raise the premiership cup.

In a chaotic couple of minutes after the siren, the Lions – who wore their predominantly white clash strip throughout the match – had a quick change before the celebratory photos begun in their historic maroon jumper.

Lions reserves coach Darren Sidebottom capped off an emotion-charged grand final win on the podium, by dedicating the win to Pakenham trainer Neil Poulton, who suddenly passed away during the season.

Steven Wright was tremendous all day for the Lions but more in the late stages of the match, making him a worthy winner of the best on ground medal.

Division 1 Reserves premiers, Pakenham.
198091 Pictures: ROB CAREW