Ben
Rowles
The
Bambill Saints have claimed the 2009 Millewa Football League premiership after
holding off a courageous Gol Gol in a thrilling Grand Final at Lake
Cullulleraine on Saturday.
In a match that epitomised a true Grand Final spectacle,
the Saints held sway over the determined Hawks for the majority of the day
before they kicked three late goals to claim their 21st flag, in one
of the best Millewa finales in recent memory.
Bambill coach Robert Morgan was full of praise for his
chargers in his post match presentation speech.
“The way the boys pulled together for the jumper and took
out the victory was a credit to not only themselves, but also the great footy
club they play for.” he said.
Morgan also praised the opposition for the spirit in which
the game was played.
“We have the utmost respect for the way the Gol Gol
Football Club goes about their business. They are a fantastic side and there is
no doubt we will wake up sore in the morning as we always do when we take on a
side like them.”
The match kicked off in perfect football conditions, with
both sides going in full strength despite some concerns during the week over
the fitness of several key Gol Gol players.
As expected, the first ten minutes were played at a
lightning intensity, with both sides applying tremendous pressure. The Saints had
most of the play early, and looked very dangerous with several inside 50
entries to have the Hawks on the back foot.
But despite dominating early on, Bambill couldn’t take
advantage of their chances, and this left the door open for Kaleb Sherwell to
kick two quick goals against the run of play to give Gol Gol the early
advantage.
The Saints continued to be wasteful with their
opportunities as the term progressed, and it wasn’t until the dying stages of
the quarter and after seven straight behinds that Bambill kicked their first
goal, courtesy of a set shot conversion from Luke Kearney to draw the Saints
level at quarter time.
However, one thing that couldn’t be faulted was the
Saints tackling pressure, which continued into the second term and resulted in
an early goal to David Hall, who was providing a real presence at centre half
forward. Bambill kicked the first three majors of the second term to get a bit
of breathing space, but a goal to Ben Parker again against the flow of play
sparked the Hawks into action.
On the back of Tansley Hill providing some crucial drive
out of the centre and Hayden Allen mopping up anything that came his way in
defence, Gol Gol clawed themselves back into the contest. A goal from Anthony Ietto brought the margin
back to 3-points by half time, and despite having half the amount of scoring
shots of Bambill, Gol Gol would have been rapped to be still in the contest at
the main break.
The premiership quarter began with both sides looking to
make the break away. Morgan kicked the first goal for the term, but a quick
reply from Hill soon after brought the margin back to under a goal.
The pressure on the ball carrier and intensity of the
game was fantastic, with neither side willing to give an inch. Bambill again
seemed to have the majority of the play through the midfield, but were falling
down across half forward, with the likes of Allen, Dallas Bailey, Tim Anderson
and Clinton French all proving difficult to penetrate. Nevertheless, the
constant drive provided by Andrew Ross and Morgan was giving the Saints every
chance, and the Bambill backline themselves were proving rock solid, with the
likes of Damian Jackson, Jason Hunt and Jeremy Adams all rebounding well of
half back.
The game suddenly turned into a goal for goal shoot out,
with Jason Bruhn breaking the shackles of Hunt to put the Hawks in front midway
through the term. Hall kicked his second soon after to give the lead back to
the Saints, before Bruhn got on the end of another slick bit of ball movement
from the Hawks’ backline to kick his third for the game.
The Hawks were having a lot more of the play in the third
term, and looked like they would carry a small margin into the final change,
but late goals to Brant Reed and Ben Milsom handed the Saints a 9-point
advantage heading into the do or die final quarter.
Both coaches stressed to their respective teams to keep
running the game out at the three quarter time break, with both Morgan and Gol
Gol coach Jason Wilkie urging their players to give it everything they had for
the final quarter of the year.
Both sides would have had in the forefront of their minds
Gol Gol’s tremendous final quarter record in recent weeks, but it was the
Saints who claimed the all important first goal of the final term through Denny
Fox, who extended the lead to 15-points.
Fox was having an inspirational game in the ruck, and
although his opponent and fellow McDonald Medallist Tim Robinson also playing
well for Gol Gol, Fox was proving unstoppable and his ability to push forward
and kick crucial goals was proving the difference.
As had been the case all day, bodies continued to fly in
as the game hung in the balance. Parker kicked his second long range goal for
the match to bring the margin back to 9-points at the ten minute mark, and when
Scott Alderton- who was having a superb game as a zippy half forward flanker
cum midfielder- chased down a Bambill opponent and promptly slotted through the
goal from 40 meters out, Gol Gol had all the momentum and trailed by only
3-points with plenty of time still remaining.
But just when they needed it the most, Bambill’s cream
came to the top and stood up when it had to be counted. Andrew Ross reignited
the Saints with his trademark dash across the lines and penetrating kicking,
while Fox continued to impose his presence on the game when he floated one home
from beyond the arc to put Bambill 9-points ahead twenty minutes in to the
final quarter.
However Gol Gol would not lie down, with the likes of
Anderson and Bailey making several crucial saves in the back half to keep the
ball away from Bambill’s dangerous forwards in Hall and Brett Haase. But just
as it seemed the Hawks defence had everything under control, an unlikely hero
stood up.
Enter Kyle Haase, who had spent the majority of the game
on the bench before coming on late in the final term to kick two crucial goals
in two minutes to all but seal a 21-point victory for the Saints.
It was a case of the agony and the ecstasy when the final
siren sounded, with the euphoria on the Bambill players, coaching staff and
supporters’ faces evident for all to see; in contrast to the body language of
the Gol Gol players, who were left to contemplate their second grand final
defeat in two years.
But despite all this, it is a credit to both teams for
the spectacle they provided on the day. Both are proud clubs with a winning
tradition, and although it will hurt Gol Gol more than anything to lose to
their fellow powerhouse, the modern rivalry between these two sides indicates
how the Millewa Football League has gone on in leaps and bounds in recent
years, and hopefully it will live on for years to come.
Fox was deservedly awarded the VCFL Best on Ground Medal
with his brilliant performance, but it was the willingness to work for each
other and the tackling pressure on the ball carrier that won Bambill the flag.
Ross was again superb all day in the midfield, with his
run and carry crucial in the final quarter. Morgan and Ben Casey also worked
tirelessly in the midfield to get the ball down to Hall, who apart from Fox
looked like the only man capable of kicking a winning score for the Saints. The
rock solid defence provided by Adams, Jackson and Hunt was also crucial on the
day for Bambill, who were able to keep the dangerous Gol Gol forward line in
check for the majority of the game.
Despite the doom and gloom of losing another Grand Final,
there are several Gol Gol players who can hold their head high after giving it
their all for the team. Hill was at his consistent best getting in and under
the packs and providing real drive with his penetrative kicking, while the
defensive unit of Bailey, Anderson, Allen and French has to be commended for
their efforts in making Bambill search for other avenues to goal.
Bailey and French in particular were fantastic, and gave
the Hawks every opportunity to steal victory by keeping the dangerous Brett
Haase goalless.
Coach Wilkie and Alderton never stopped trying and gave
it their all in the midfield, and Bruhn really set the Hawks alight in the
second half and almost inspired his teammates to victory.
In the end, it was a terrific finale to the 2009 Season,
with the two best sides playing off in a thrilling, high intensity and tough
Grand Final. Both sides are to be congratulated on the fantastic spirit the
game was played in, and there is no doubt both clubs will continue to be a Millewa
powerhouse in coming seasons.
But for this season at least, it is Bambill’s time to
shine as they add another piece of silverware to the bulging trophy cabinet. It
is their first fourth flag this decade, and their first Grand Final win since
2007. As the club song goes, they had
‘hopes to win the flag beside the Lake side’- they certainly lived up to those
expectations.
Bambill
|
1.7.13
|
5.11.41
|
9.12.66
|
13.14.92
|
Gol
Gol
|
2.1.13
|
6. 2. 38
|
9. 3. 57
|
11. 5. 71
|
Bambill
Goal
Kickers- Denny Fox 4, David Hall 2, Kyle Haase 2, Ben Casey, Brant
Reid, Luke Kearney, Ben Milsom, Robert Morgan 1
Best
Players- Denny Fox, Andrew Ross, David Hall, Ben Casey, Robert
Morgan, Jeremy Adams, Damien Jackson, Jason Hunt
Gol
Gol
Goal
Kickers- Jason Bruhn 3, Ben Parker, Kaleb Sherwell 2, Scott
Alderton, Anthony Ietto, Tansley Hill, Dion Collins 1
Best
Players- Tansley Hill, Scott Alderton, Dallas Bailey, Hayden
Allen, Jason Wilkie, Jason Bruhn, Tim Anderson, Dion Collins
Last Modified on 20/09/2009 12:06