SKIPTON is the premier team of the Lexton Plains Football League.
The Emus won their first flag since 2005 and their fourth in the LPFL by seven goals over reigning premier Carngham-Linton at Learmonth on Saturday.
Carngham-Linton had won the past three flags, but this time it was Skipton's day _ 17.9 (111) to 10.9 (69).
A scintillating third term by Skipton turned a 16-point half-time deficit into a 42 point three-quarter-time lead.
Ten goals to one in the aptly named premiership quarter came from nowhere.
Kiernan Molloy was the catalyst with four goals.
It was no surprise to see the Emu captain Molloy awarded the VCFL and Merv Howard Medals as best-on-ground.
It was one of the best quarters of football seen for a long time as Skipton dominated the midfield and scored at will.
It was always going to be Skipton's attack that was the difference in one way or another, and for Skipton's sake, it went in its favour.
Molloy finished with six majors, while Joel Riske contributed five for the day.
The Saints were brave in defeat.
They looked on track for a fourth consecutive flag at half-time.
They led for all but five minutes of the opening half _ holding a 25-point advantage 10 minutes into the second stanza.
Matt Stasse was playing well again, while Joel Kelly was dangerous up forward.
But though the Saints were 16 points up at the main break, the game was still up in the air.
However, it did not take long for Skipton to bring Carngham-Linton back to earth, gaining the lead they would not surrender after four minutes of the third term.
Three more goals in seven minutes blew the game apart, with the last four also to the Emus.
Those seven were interspersed with a Robbie Greenbank (Carngham-Linton) goal, but come three-quarter-time, everyone at the Learmonth ground had just witnessed one of the most dominant quarters in LPFL grand final history.
Coach Tim McKay reminded his players at half-time of the basics of the game.
"I said at half-time there were two or three simple structures that would get us back in the game and help set us up," he said.
"I also said to make sure we don't play cute and over possessive football, be direct from the half backline and have faith in our forwards.
"Be more direct was number one, and get back to basics in regards to controlled aggression."
Photograph courtesy of Ballarat Courier: Skipton coach Tim McKay, left, and captain Kiernan Molloy hold the Lexton Plains Football League premiership cup. Picture: Andrew Kelly