By RUSSELL BENNETT
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
OTHER GRADES GRAND FINAL REVIEWS – WEST DIVISION
Under-13s
Cora Lynn v Kooweerup
RAY ‘Windows’ Payne couldn’t sleep on Friday night.
The Cora Lynn legend was far too nervous about Saturday’s big decider against Kooweerup – and no, not necessarily the senior battle.
The clash between his under-13s and the youngsters from Denhams Road was racing through his mind.
Prior to Saturday, Windows had never been directly involved in a premiership – that’s in 44 years of footy, starting his playing career as an 11-year-old in the under-16s and going on to become the only person to have coached each one of Cora Lynn’s grades.
But almost as a precursor to his son Tim holding aloft the senior premiership cup as Cobras skipper, Windows’s fairy tale came true as his young side claimed a 13-point win – 4.7 (31) to 3.0 (18).
He’d never want this story to be about him, though.
Harry Coleman, Taiki Skipwith, Tim Weller and Brent Marchetti were all outstanding in the contest for Cora Lynn – as was big Veatauia Sua in the ruck – while hard-nuts Mitch Cammarano and Kalin Parker, half-back Paige Cowan and excitement machine Matt Voss put everything on the line for the Kooweerup cause. Cobra Mosiah Addi was awarded the best-on-ground medal.
Under-15.5s
Kooweerup v Nar Nar Goon
THE Demons faithful quickly had a premiership to cheer at Beswick Street though, with their young under-15.5 side storming to a big win over Nar Nar Goon, 12.10 (82) to 5.6 (36).
The Goon was undefeated throughout the home-and-away season with a whopping percentage of 377.94.
But the Demons proved that facing them in the finals was a different story entirely. The youngsters from Spencer Street lost to Koowee in the second semi final before ultimately falling again in the decider.
The Demons took a 20-point lead into quarter time and extended that even further by the main break with young star Nathan Voss excelling all over the ground.
He finished with five goals in a best-on-ground effort, while Luke McMaster (2 goals), Lachlan Hameeteman, Callum Huxtable and Cody Miller also shone.
Trent Armour, Ryan Doolan, Liam Missen and Luke Dortmans were some of the Goon’s strongest performers in a tough day at the office.
Under-18s
Cora Lynn v Nar Nar Goon
LIKE Kooweerup did before them, Nar Nar Goon bounced back from the disappointment of a grand final loss to experience the sweet taste of premiership success – winning the thirds decider by four points in an absolute thriller, 9.4 (58) to 8.6 (54).
After a sluggish start for both sides – with only three goals scored for the first quarter – they both put their foot down in the second.
The Goon maintained its slender quarter-time lead at the main break and extended that out to what looked like a match-winning 20-point margin at the last.
The Goon’s careful, more methodical approach seemed to be getting the better of the Cobras’ longer and more direct style with experienced senior player Todd Beck playing a decisive role.
But Cora Lynn turned the tables with the penetrating kicking of Michael Misso and the ferocious tackling of Tim Mashado playing a huge role.
If it wasn’t for the big-game performances of Mitch Lewis (3 goals), Hayden Lownds (2 goals), Beck and best-on-ground winner Tyler Joosten, the Cobras might have clinched a famous win but instead the Goon triumphed over their rivals in front of a massive, raucous crowd.
Reserves
Nar Nar Goon v Bunyip
The curtain-raiser to Saturday’s seniors showdown didn’t quite live up to the standard set by the under-18 clash with the Goon just far too strong for Bunyip in a 49-point win, 9.11 (65) to 2.4 (16).
Not too dissimilar to the Demons in the seniors, it seemed the Dogs used up all their petrol tickets in making the decider – while the Goon, which finished on top of the ladder, continued to go from strength to strength.
A clean ball was hard to come by in the first half but the likes of Tom Edwards, Brett Andrews, Junior Hunt (2 goals) and best-on-ground winner Jeff Poels (2 goals) proved too much for the Dogs to handle.
Goon hard-nut Phil Hicks had the Sherrin on a string, while Josh Taylor, Rob Miglas, Clay Simpson and Damien Berryman toiled hard all day for the Dogs.
