Congratulations to Nyora – the 2018 EDFL premiers. And commiserations to Longwarry who were gallant in defeat. It was the Saints first premiership since 2007. Nyora the minor premiers won by four points in a low scoring game that - incredibly only yielded five goals on a day when intermittent showers made skilful football very difficult.
In the opening term Longwarry made all the running but resolute defence by Nyora led by Coach Fia Too, Kallon Rigby and Shaun Beecroft saw that it went into the first break only trailing by three points. Strong tackling and relentless pressure on the ball carrier was a feature of the game in the opening term and it continued in the second quarter before an opportunist goal off the ground by Crow coach Daniel Fry broke the goal drought and gave the Crows an eight-point lead at the first break.
In the third quarter the weather dried up and Nyora played with more cohesion and with two goals off the boot of IIan Osman and another to Ben Schultz it went into the last break with a 10-point lead. The Schultz goal was a game changer. He took the ball from a throw in ruck contest and snapped it around his body to kick the goal of the day. Not to be denied Longwarry kept coming in the last term and when equal 2018 Alf Walton medallist Russell Lehman weaved and drove forward to kick their second goal with still more than five minutes left on the clock the game was all set up for a heart stopping finish. In the final minutes the ball was locked in the Longwarry forward line and big numbers milled around the stoppages but desperate Nyora defending prevented the Crows from scoring.
For Nyora midfielders Rhys Bancroft, Dylan Heylen and Ben Hallas all made their presence felt while the back six led by coach Fia Too Too played the percentages well in a good team effort. It is hard to criticise the efforts of Longwarry. Centreman Russell Lehman (AFL Vic Country Medallist winner), half back Cole Cook, wingman Brody Rundell, Harley Jones and Jake Delphine all excelled at various times.
Last Modified on 16/09/2018 01:02
