COOLAROO has clinched its second AFL Darling Downs title in three years after a physical 15.14 (104) to 8.12 (60) grand final victory over Goondiwindi at Heritage Oval.
The Roos broke away with a dominant opening quarter, and while the Hawks kept coming until the final siren, the lead proved too much for them to chase down.
Goondiwindi was barely sighted inside 50 during the first term while the Roos made the most of their chances to lead 5.6 to 0.5.
The Hawks made the perfect start to the second term as they won the centre clearance and Alex McNaughton snapped a goal.
But Goondiwindi's physical game started to prove costly, with a player marched by the umpires, and Coolaroo extended its lead to 45 points at the long break.
Tensions threatened to boil over as players left the field at halftime and the third quarter was an arm-wrestle with two goals apiece.
The game opened up again in the final term, but the Hawks couldn't make any headway as both teams kicked 4.3 for the quarter to hand Coolaroo the win.
Adam Green led the way for Coolaroo with five goals while Michael Langton was awarded the Ellen McConachie Medal.
Roos coach Shaun Johnson said the game went exactly to plan.
"We defended as well as we've defended all year and I think that was the difference," Johnson said.
"One thing that you know you're going to get with Goondiwindi is they'll be tough at the footy. We knew that and we were prepared.
"We just said all day, be first to the footy and you'll win the game, and that's what we did."
Johnson plans to step down from coaching the Roos next season so he was ecstatic to finish up with his first senior coaching success.
"This is my fourth year as a senior coach. I've had three grand finals and this is my first premiership," he said.
"I couldn't be happier. I'm not going to be coaching the boys next year so to go out on a high note is just amazing."
Meanwhile, the Toowoomba Tigers women have capped their maiden AFL Darling Downs season with a 6.9 (45) to 3.5 (23) win over Dalby in the grand final.
The Tigers kept the Swans to just one minor score in the first half to lead the defending premiers by 17 points at the long break.
Dalby started a charge with a two-goals-to-one third quarter and got to within 10 points of the Tigers early in the fourth, but two goals to Jayde Struhs snuffed out any hope of a comeback.
Finally, South Burnett has vanquished the demons of last year's grand final defeat with a 10.9 (69) to 6.11 (47) victory over Dalby in the division two decider.
The Saints raced to a 34-point halftime lead on the back of two goals to Dylan Bowater.
Lochlan Ferguson inspired the Swans in the third quarter with two majors of his own to cut the margin to eight at the final change.
But the Saints kicked on with two goals to halt Dalby's comeback and claim the premiership. Adam Bowater has awarded the newly named Trevor Green medal for best on ground honors.
Last Modified on 28/06/2016 14:59