By DAVID NAGEL
CASEY CARDINIA FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
GRAND FINAL REVIEW – UNDER 17
BERWICK’s absolute pleasure has once again become Narre Warren’s heartbreaking pain.
Two teams with so very little between them produced another thrilling finale on Saturday, the Wickers claiming the 2014 crown with a four-point victory over the Magpies at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Suggest to the Magpies that things ‘usually even out in the end’ and you’ll be rubbing salt into an already gaping wound.
The core of both these sides met in the South East Juniors grand final of last year, Berwick victorious after the Magpies missed with the last kick of the day, then in the second semi-final just two weeks ago, a Marcus Starow after-the-siren major secured the Wickers with first place in Saturday’s season decider.
That’s how close the line is between pleasure and pain for these two talented groups.
“We’ve had some great contests against Narre, last year was the same story, but they’re a great bunch of kids, they’ve got some great character those boys, they’ll play some good footy going forward,” a respectful Berwick coach Russell Trait explained.
The Magpies hit the scoreboard first – and quickly – with Daniel Kitto kicking truly before Matija Sigeti answered, just two minutes later, and a high-scoring shootout looked likely. But then both teams settled into their defensive structures and the contest became tight. The Magpies were super-efficient up forward, with goals to Nathan Aliotta, Corey Graham, Hayden Kraus, and another from Kitto, in direct contrast to a wasteful Berwick.
The Wickers were pushed wide, their shots at goal coming from strange places, the scores 5.0 to 1.9 when a sickening collision, 16 minutes into the second quarter, brought an early end to the first half.
The Magpies Jett Cipriani was brave, but his head over the ball endeavours were met with oncoming traffic, the result was head-high contact that required on-field ambulance treatment.
Play recommenced, with 22 minute quarters allowed to make up for lost time.
Berwick was in command, but wildly inaccurate in the third, with a 1.7 to 0.3 term seeing the Wickers trail by just five points – 5.3 to 2.16 – at the final break.
The Wickers were the better team in the final term, Luke Nelson putting them in front, Jordan Creely responding, before Trent Thomas scraped one through with the final goal of the match to give the Wickers a hard-earned victory.
“We had the footy in our hands most of the time, so we were confident if the goal kicking turned it would go our way,” Trait said.
“It means a lot, but more so for the boys, I just wanted them to taste more success because they’re bloody hard to win, I couldn’t win one. They’re great kids, with great parents, and that shows… they’re going to taste nice tonight.”
Rugged utility Jonathon Bishop claimed best on ground honours for his tireless display, while Nelson, Mat McLardy and skipper Jarryd Trait were other outstanding performers.
Kitto was the only multiple goal kicker for either side, with two, while Aliotta, Jackson Carter and defender Jayden Phillips were best for the Magpies.
