VINDICATION FOR PREMIERSHIP-WINNING MAGPIES
By Louie Bulzomi
What a difference a year makes! This time in 2011, the Werrimull players sat on the Lake Culluleraine main oval turf dejected and bitter while witnessing the Bambill contingent collect the premiership cup and medals. But in 2012, at the same venue, the players couldn’t contain their emotions as they reaped the joys of premiership glory after a performance that vindicated their position as the best team this season.
From beginning to end, the Magpies decimated a disappointing Gol Gol, winning every quarter en route to a resounding 114-point win, 20.23 (143) to 4.5 (29), to take home their 18th flag. Their immense pressure when without the footy (especially up forward) was paramount throughout, and their backline completely blanketed the dangerous Hawk forwards (especially Michael Harradine, who kept the season’s leading goalkicker Sonny Lindsey to just one goal and three marks).
The Grand Final began in overcast and blustery conditions; the wind pushing the ball towards the social room side. Aaron Milner won the first hitout, Jamie Roberts latched on to the first clearance, and Brad Duscher (after a terrific contested mark) scored the first behind at the Sturt Highway end. After three minutes of complete Magpie dominance, Mark Duscher kicked the first goal from long range on a 45-degree angle against his favoured left side. He would kick a second after many minutes of stop-start play, and after Brenden Marr and Jamie Russell each added one, the Magpies threatened to open the floodgates.
Gol Gol were tackling well, but they found it tough to clear their back half as Werrimull (through the likes of Ryan Tierney, Ash Bates, Shannon Anthony and Ben Duscher) managed to outnumber them at practically every contest. They barely ventured inside 50 at all during the first term; their only score (a behind) coming from a good chain of passes from Tim Murphy to Brock Chapman to Clint Burdett, who found Lindsey on the lead.
The second term started much in the same vogue, with Werrimull completely monstering Gol Gol wherever the ball was (exemplified in the second minute when Lee Crane, in front of the interchange gates, couldn’t escape the wrath of three Magpie players and conceded a free kick). After Graeme Mentiplay slotted Werrimull’s fifth, John Thompson finally gave the Hawk faithful something to cheer about with their first goal after a nice sidestep and assist from Burdett.
But again Gol Gol failed to get any real rhythm going – outside of Burdett and the back six, most other influential players were well down (notably Darren Brown, David Gray and Tony Albert). On the other hand, Harradine, Bates, Dan Smith, Colby Loxton, Mark Thornton and Matt Kelly continued to spoil and rebound, while Ben and Brad Duscher, Mentiplay, Tierney, Paul Jenkins and Jay Savage kept on picking off many Hawk long bombs from defence as only Werrimull’s poor accuracy kept Gol Gol in it.
There was plenty of heat between the sides throughout the second term – Roberts and Kaleb Sherwell ‘exchanged phone numbers’ in the second quarter and, as Roberts came to the bench, Crane got in his face as well. Dustin Duggan ‘got dusty’ with Alan Jenkins after the latter applied a fierce tackle, and both Adam Thomson and Ben Duscher came off under the blood rule. Late in the quarter Lindsey crashed into Roberts, forcing him off with a shoulder injury; then, after Tierney remonstrated with him, Sonny retaliated and gave away a 50 metre penalty. And Ben Sobkowiak was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs just before half time after an accidental collision.
For much of the second half, it was about who could outdo who within the Magpie camp while continuing to play disciplined team footy as they kicked 14.10 to 3.3. M.Duscher and Thomson went goal for goal in the final term to finish with five and four respectively. Jamie Keenan put on a cameo display in the third quarter, kicking goals from outside 50 and from the boundary. And Harradine ventured forward late in the game to finish with the greatest celebration of a behind ever seen.
While nearly every Magpie player deserved best on ground honours, Bates ended up the worthy recipient of the VCFL Medal.
Last Modified on 10/09/2012 06:15