by Jim Gordon
Ouyen United won their third Mallee Football League Premiership defeating Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers by 56 points at Woomelang on Saturday.
In warm and windy conditions, a huge crowd paid $20500 at the gate to see a day of total Demon domination with Ouyen United taking all three Premiership Cups on offer.
It was a great day for Ouyen United, not only did they win the Seniors flag after being Runners Up the previous two years, but they won the Reserves and the Under 16s in a complete whitewash of all football grades for 2011.
“I am so pleased for our players, supporters, sponsors and my hard working committee,’ said clearly elated Ouyen United President Tony Cua. ‘To have won all three Grades caps off a wonderful year for the club.’
Demon Brett Knowles won the Seniors VCFL Best on Ground medallion. This was a culmination of two outstanding finals games as Knowles was also best on ground when Ouyen United thrashed Beulah two weeks ago.
From the very first bounce the Demons looked to be in control of this game. They held the Tigers when Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers had first use of the strong northerly breeze and went into the first break only seven points down when it was a four or five goal advantage.
‘We knew that we had the team to win this Grand Final,’ said Ouyen United coach Ryan O‘Callaghan. ‘The conditions and the Tigers’ determination held us up for a while, but in the end, we got the win we were hoping for.’
Knowles has had a great year for Ouyen United and he was at this best in the Demon victory. For such a big man he has beautiful balance, he is quick to read the play and is a prodigious kick with the wind or against it.
In the first quarter Knowles dropped back into defence and proceeded to mark everything in sight holding up the Tigers time after time.
United used Knowles to kick out from full back in this quarter. He always chose the non scoring flank and he kicked long with the result that the Demons were able to bottle up play and prevent the Tigers scoring when they had first use of the wind. For the rest of the game he hovered across the centre working in tandem with midfielders Glenn Joyce, Marc Hahnel and Craig Deckert to drive United deep into attack..
The strong northerly wind played havoc with the superior skills of Ouyen United and it was only when the game opened up in the third term that we really got to see the Demons playing the football that we have come to expect from them in the second half of the season. In this term United’s superiority became evident on the scoreboard for the first time in the match.
Whether Sea Lake Nandaly tired after putting in a typical hard running, team oriented effort for the first half, but United broke the game apart during the third term. Against the wind, they increased their 31 point half time lead into an unassailable 51 points by the three quarter time break.
The Demons had all of the play in their forward line in the second term, but due to the vagaries of the strong breeze and some determined and good defensive play by Sea Lake Nandaly, their domination was not all that evident on the scoreboard. If it wasn’t already all over for the Tigers by half time, it was at three quarter time as Ouyen United were coming home with the breeze in the final term.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers tried valiantly all day and did well to keep this game from blowing out before half time. The Tigers ran hard, they looked for each other and had many good players on the day. In that match-deciding third term when United were scoring goals into the wind, the Tigers could only manage behinds when kicking with it.
Matthew Vining was Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ best on the day. Vining started in attack, but when the Tigers were looking to bottle up play and hold the Demons out, it was Vining in defence who did a lot of work running, marking and kicking out to the defensive flank.
The Tigers once again started with their forwards congregated around the goal square and it was obvious that they were going to attempt to break away from their opponents and give their midfield options when kicking into the forward line.
Colin Durie tried valiantly all day and got kicks in defence, across the centre and ended up kicking a goal. Jarrod Alderton had the unenviable task of trying to contain Bradley Vallance and never gave up trying although Vallance was a strong presence all day for United and ended up with three goals.
Taylor Hannig was another Sea Lake Nandaly Tiger who never gave up trying all day on Sonny Lindsey. Lindsey kicked six goals, he had one poster and a couple of other near misses on a day when the ball was in the United forward line for long periods of play. The wind often spoilt the opportunities for those who rely on leading and marking.
Ouyen United’s Brenton Jardine had a great day. He was one who did not seem bothered by the conditions and relished being played at full back for the first time this year as the selectors wanted him on Daniel Carmichael. Jardine took care of Carmichael early and then towelled up John Foskett who had proven such a match winner the week before. Jardine teamed well with his cousin Andrew who was rock solid in defence all day. These two read the play so well that they could often gather the ball and release each other for those trade mark long runs out of defence and penetrating kicks to the centre of the ground or beyond.
Ouyen United coach Ryan O’Callaghan covered more ground than the early settlers. He would dropped back to fill a hole in defence when the Tigers had the wind, he reads the play well and slotted a goal from a free kick just when United needed to end a run of behinds.
Marc Hahnel came into his own in the third term when play finally opened up. He was a great link man with Ouyen United going forward, finding space and passing off with precision. Hahnel teamed well with Glenn Joyce when the Demons were cutting swathes through the midfield in that third term.
Others to do well for United were Ben Mole who had brilliant bursts in the first and third terms when the Demons were kicking into the wind, Craig Deckert was cool and calm all day and Joshua Langdon played with a focus and discipline that belied his young years. With limited opportunities, Alexander Morrish stood up and held marks under pressure.
It was a fitting end for a side that has played some exhilarating football this season. Ouyen United proved to be by far the best team in the MFL this season. They are a blend of youth and experience that was a cut above the next best in the league.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers did well to reach the Grand Final when all year it looked like it would be the Demons and Beulah fighting it out. The Tigers will be well satisfied with their efforts in the latter part of the season and will look forward to adding to their talent for a tilt at the 2012 flag, until then, United well and truly rule the roost.
Last Modified on 18/09/2011 20:57
