Our game is no doubt the best game in the world but could also be one of the most cruelest. You can't help but feel for the Benalla people and yet at the same time feel very pleased for the Shepparton Swans. Mixed emotions for sure - the two extremes; from unbridled pure joy happiness to deep sadness, heartbreak and disappointment. Especially in the Senior game - the undefeated Benalla Saints going in probably a warm if not hot favourite to be Premiers and Champions. To see strong men cry can break your heart - this was seen minutes after the final siren at Deakin in the large group of Benalla people and then you look over to the many, many joyous Swans and see strong men also choking back a tear of happiness.
All in all; a great day at Deakin, a big crowd that has paid over $75,000 for admission for the three footy games and 4 netball finals. Weather fine and sunny but with a strong 25 to 30kph wind from the North, mainly blowing over the grandstand over to Nixon Street. The strength of the wind increased during the day as predicted to be at its strongest at about half time of the seniors but by about 5:30pm it was just a lovely gentle breeze. Enough of the weather; on with the footy which started at 9:15 between Benalla and Seymour. The ground was in terrific condition; well done to the City of Greater Shepparton outdoor staff - it was marked perfectly and had a good bit of give in it.
Under 18's :- talk about Benalla having gone through a very tough time over the last two years with sadness; on Friday night before this game Wally ARMSTONG lost his Dad down in Warrnambool, hence all the Benalla boys wearing black arm-bands. Wally as coach of the Benalla Under 18's marshalled his young troops magnificently to win the flag over Seymour by 22 points. Q x Q scores show the young Saints were ahead all day - at 1/4 time Benalla 2.2 (14) to Seymour 2.1 (13) - at 1/2 time Benalla 7.3 (45) to Seymour 3.3 (21) - up by 24 points - at 3/4 time Benalla 7.5 (47) to Seymour 4.4 (28) then in the last quarter Benalla have kicked 3 goals 1 behind to the Lions 2 goals 4 behinds - Final score :- Benalla 10.6 (66) to Seymour 6.8 (44). BENALLA Goal Kickers :- Brodie WEBSTER 3, Jayden JONES 2, Patrick ROBINSON 2 and singles to David MENNEN, Charlie MORRISON and Nick FEEHAN. BENALLA's BEST were recorded as :- (ooops; not recorded - bugar!) SEYMOUR Goal Kickers were :- Jordon HOCKLEY 2, Max JONES 2 and a single each to Xavier DAMASI and Julian MORGAN. SEYMOUR's BEST were recorded as Tom MARTIN, Xavier DEMASI, Chris JACKSON, Bailey GREGSON, Mark VIERGEVER and Jake O'BRIEN.
Gary LYON - Player of the Finals Series medal :- Xavier DAMASI (Seymour) VCFL Best on Ground medal (as awarded by umpires) David MENNEN (Benalla) Freddo McMAHON Best on Ground medal (as awarded by the Media) Nicholas SPENCER (Benalla)
CONGRATULATIONS BENALLA !!!!!!
Reserves CONGRATULATIONS EUROA and especially to their player No. 6 Scott WATSON who is the President of the Magpies and a man who has played over 200 top quality GVFL senior grade games. Scott just loves the game and loves his club and town and the reason for this pat on the back is that this is Scott's maiden Premiership - his very first flag which is a great reward for a great bloke. Euroa were ahead all match on the scoreboard but never by any great margin as they had terrific opponents in Benalla. The Q x Q scores are as follows :- Euroa 2.3 (15) to Benalla 1.1 (7) - at 1/2 time Euroa 2.6 (18) to Benalla 1.3 (9) - at 3/4 time Euroa 7.10 (52) to Benalla 6.6 (42) and the Final Score was Euroa 9.13 (67) to Benalla 8.8 (56). Unfortunately we have not got the Goal-kickers or Best players for Benalla but we do for the Premiers :- EUROA Goals :- Brad "Rooster" CUNNINGHAM 3, Brad GLEESON 2, Hayden SAVILLE 1, Chris McKAY 1, Luke GILLILAND 1 and good on ya 'Watto with a lovely goal to steady the ship. This needs to be found out? How many goals has Scott WATSON kicked for Euroa and actually how many games has he played? The Magpies BEST have been recorded as :- Brad CUNNINGHAM, Travis BURLS, Hayden SAVILLE,. Klay GIOVANNINI, Nathan HARPER and James IVILL. MAGNIFICENT MAGPIE MAGOO's !!!!!!!!!!
SENIORS The SWANS The SWANS The SWANS The SWANS 7.6 (48) to 5.15 (45)
1st Quarter Swans kicking to the Harold Street goals - Benalla kicking to the United Skene Street end. First score at the 2:14 mark with Andrew RIORDAN (Swans) a point from set shot in the tricky wind. Remember; the wind was getting strong blowing over and around the Grandstand pushing the ball across to the Nixon Street side of the ground. 4:50 Nick WARNOCK (Ben) a point from a set shot - 7:06 Tommy HAVERS (Ben) a point from a set shot then 9:02 Yappa McKEAN (Ben) out on the full from a set shot - 9:44 Luke MORGAN (Ben) also out on the full from a set shot - so after 10 minutes we've had 3 points and two out on the fulls from 5 set shots - wind very tricky! First goal at 13:10 from James MARTYN (Ben) from a snap 15 metres out and then 90 seconds later from a set-shot James MARTYN kicked it out on the full. The moral of the story at this stage is do not have set shots for goal - have snaps! A brilliant goal by Tommy HAVERS from Benalla at the 16:40 mark who balked and ran around 3 Swans to snap the Saints second goal from about 20 m out. At the 18 minute mark Nick WARNOCK performed a bit of "did you see that?" by tapping the ball over Dan LOVICK's head, running around Dan to gather the footy, straighten up on the run and dob it from about 20 metre running into an open goal. 19:30 James MARTYN (Ben) a point from a snap. 21:27 Kaiden ANTONOWICZ got the Swans first major on the board with a very clever snap after receiving a MADDERN handpass. Swans second goal 2 minutes later when Brodie A'VARD kicked truly from a brilliant bullet pass from Tyson SIDEBOTTOM who was in the Nixon Street gate pocket. At QUARTER TIME BENALLA 3.3 (21) to the Shepparton Swans 2.1 (13)
2nd Quarter Centre clearance by the Swans but out wide, backwards, forwards then into the Swans goal mouth where Kaiden ANTONOWICZ pounced and with a soccer kick popped it through the middle. A note was written that Swans Captain Jessie FINNEN is playing on Josh MELLINGTON. 6:26 Justin MADDERN (Swans) a point and then two minutes later MADDERN kicked his first Goal from a snap - the Swans now ahead on the scoreboard 4.2 (26) to Benalla 3.3 (21) - 9:35 Nick MELLINGTON (Ben) a point down the Harold Street end - it looks like Will MARTINIELLO has gone on to ANTONOWICZ - 11:35 Benalla a rushed point. Lots of out on the full kicks going over the Nixon Street boundary line from both sides - 15:05 Tommy HAVERS (Ben) a point then Tyson SIDEBOTTOM (Swans) out on the full from a set shot. 18:24 Jamason DANIELS (Swans) a Goal running out of the centre square to centre half forward. Probably the straightest the ball has gone so far. 19:30 Tyson SIDEBOTTOM a strong mark in front of the Shepp United rooms where he has kicked plenty of goals from but this time - guess what? OOF! 21:30 Justin MADDERN (Swans) from a lovely pass from DANIELS. A notebook entry states "LOVICK beating WARNOCK". 23:50 Nick WARNOCK (Ben) a point then HALF TIME - Shepparton Swans 5. (33) to Benalla 3.7 (25)
3rd Quarter Kaiden ANTONOWICZ started but was off the ground pretty well straight away - he is not right; 00:45 - Nick WARNOCK (Ben) a set shot from in front of the United rooms - Out On Full - 2:56 a rushed point to Benalla - Jamason DANIELS very good - 5:20 Josh MELLINGTON (Ben) a point from a set shot. 7:38 Alistair JACKA (Ben) a goal from a set shot from the guide hall pocket. Benalla a point up 4.10 (34) to the Swans 5.3 (33). 9:12 perennial point kicker Justin MADDERN a point from a snap down at Harold Street then big Mitch BELL from the Swans snapped a point at the 9:45 mark - Swans up by a point. Tom PREECE for the Swans is having a good game down back - Brodie A'VARD is down back with Dan LOVICK in the forward line for a few minutes. 13:45 Big BELL took an excellent high mark in the goal square to kick a sausage. Swans now up by 7 points - 6.5 (41) to Benalla 4.10 (34). Lachy SMITH taking some good strong saving marks for Benalla stopping the Swans going further than centre half forward. Tyson SIDEBOTTOM becoming prominent - getting plenty of the hard ball and dishing it off cleanly - ANTONOWICZ on but straight off with leg trouble. 20:36 James MARTYN (Ben) a point from a snap shot. 21:36 Benalla rushed point - from the kick out Josh MELLINGTON got the footy and had a snap which just veered off for a point. THREE QUARTER TIME :- Shepparton Swans 7.5 (47) to Benalla 4.13 (37) - 10 points the diff at 3/4 time in favour of the Swans.
4th Quarter the Swans are kicking to the United end (Skene Street) where most of the experts think the wind is favouring but it was still going straight across Deakin although it did swirl a bit at times. 1:10 Josh MELLINGTON (Ben) OOF, 3:13 Yappa McKEAN (Ben) also OOF - both kicks from the Nixon Street gate flank. TINKLER, PREECE, BJ SQUIRE, DANIELS and SIDEBOTTOM very good - LOVICK back at centre half back. 7:15 Al JACKA (Ben) a goal from a beautiful Josh MELLINGTON pass. 9:16 MADDERN (Swans) OOF - 9:37pm MADDERN again a point - SIDEY really standing out - 13:30 Tommy HAVERS (Ben) a point from a kick off the ground - Shepparton Swans 7.6 (48) to Benalla 5.14 (44) - 4 points in favour of the Swans. 14 minutes gone into the final quarter - Will MARTINIELLO now starting to get a bit of the footy; can he lift the Saints? The Saints going forward again and looking good but Dan LOVICK steps in in front of the scoreboard to take a very strong mark and perhaps knock a bit of wind out of the Saints sail? 23:25 a Benalla point - now 3 points down. Bugar all has been kicked this quarter so far - only a point to the Swans and one goal 2 behinds to Benalla. Let's say add on a minute for every goal and the stoppages; time might be running out for the Saints. The Swans get the footy out of bounds a few times to chew up the clock. Big Will SULLIVAN for Benalla has a long shot but falls short and is picked up by the Swans and then BEEEEEERRRRRRRPPPPPPPP - that's it folks, a the 24:40 mark of the last quarter the Deakin Reserve siren made its siren type noise to the thunderous cheering, the enormous joy of all the Swans players and supporters. The Swans are PREMIERS !!!! They jumped and ran and jumped on each other, they whooped and hollared and roared with delight - the Saints players sank to the ground, gut-wrenched distraught. The Agony - The Ecstacy.
Final score :- Shepparton Swans 7.6 (48) to Benalla 5.5 (45) - 3 points !
SWANS GOAL KICKERS :- Kaiden ANTONOWICZ 3 and singles to Mitch BELL, Paul FRY, Jamason DANIELS and Brodie A'VARD. SWANS BEST PLAYERS :- Jamason DANIELS Tom PREECE Tyson SIDEBOTTOM Dan LOVICK Jessie FINNEN Bryden (BJ) SQUIRE
BENALLA Goal Kickers :- Alistair JACKA 2 with singles to James MARTYN, Tommy HAVERS and Nick WARNOCK. BENALLA'S BEST were :- Jake PALLPRATT Brook MARTYN Andrew POLWARTH Nick MELLINGTON Zac PALLPRATT and James MARTYN.
Barry CONNOLLY Medal for the Best Player of the Finals :- B.J. SQUIRE (Swans)
V.C.F.L. Medal for Best Man on the ground (voted by media) Tyson SIDEBOTTOM (Swans)
Wilf COX Medal for Best Man on the ground (voted by the umpires) Jamason DANIELS (Swans)
Congratulations Swans - well deserved after 44 long years.
Commiserations Benalla - a brilliant year with the three footy sides in the Grand Final and the seniors to be undefeated right up to the Grand Final really is pretty sad
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 18:24