By Justin Lemmon
There are common threads in all great Grand Finals – Carlton/Collingwood had them, so did West Coast/Sydney and Hawthorn/Geelong. The sides are evenly matched, they have played close encounters throughout the year, there are key individual battles and it helps if they don’t like each other too much either – some spite on the big stage never goes astray.
An Albanvale/Braybrook Grand Final had all the makings of a genuine classic and it lived up to the billing – encapsulating the competitiveness Division Three was designed to offer in a single hit out. The Brookers were the side gutsy enough to drag themselves over the line by just two-points, despite either side being worthy victors.
It was a seesawing battle all day that was as ferocious as the scores were tight. If one side managed to grab a small break the other hit back immediately and at no change did the scores extend past a goal.
It was the Cobras who led for the majority thanks to the run and carry of Sean Blake who was again outstanding and hit the scoreboard with three goals while Justin Henderson continued his recent run of excellent form. They have looked one of the sides most willing to run and carry the footy this year and despite it being a contested game they looked dangerous on the spread.
Despite Albanvale looking in terrific touch, Braybrook were just as fierce and were perhaps shading the contested possession count even if neither side could totally wrest momentum and get the game on their terms. Although Matthew Bellingham was instrumental for Braybrook and a worthy best on ground winner, the unheralded Frank Hoang was inspired. Hoang put himself in places where angels fear to tread and his attack on the ball and man was outstanding in contested situations.
Hoang along with speedy forward Paul Cutajar-Milosev who finished with five goals, were the difference on a day when either side could have grabbed victory. Forward line potency was the thing separating the two, despite them kicking 12-goals apiece.
Although John Sirianni kicked three for Albanvale, he wasn’t at his dominant best and the Cobra’s do rely on their big full forward to straighten them up – an extra avenue to goal may have seen them pinch this one deep in the final term.
All Grand Final losses are heartbreaking, especially when a clubs first Premiership is on the line and the eventual margin is just two-points but the Cobras have the underlying talent in place to mount a challenge again in 2015.
For the proud old Braybrook the win harkens back to a time when they were a dominant force in the West. Senior Coach Michael Shepperbottom has some genuine talent at his disposal with the likes of Paul Cutajar-Milosev, Lachlan Sidebottom and Steven Pearce.
Going back to back and reviving the old era of dominance Braybrook enjoyed should be the ambition for 2015 and beyond.
It was a historic day in the reserves as Sanctuary Lakes secured their first piece of seniors silverware with a 38-point win over Braybrook. Tristan Pearce and Michael Seex were the standouts in what was a dominant win for the Sharks.
Follow Justin on Twitter @JustinLemmon1
Last Modified on 08/09/2014 12:09