By RUSSELL BENNETT
IN what will surely be remembered as one of the great storylines of the 2015 season, Nar Nar Goon has won its first final since claiming the 2010 premiership – a hard-fought 26-point win over Kooweerup, 12.12 (84) to 8.10 (58).
There was a packed house at Buln Buln, with cars overflowing all the way down Station Street and well up Platts Road. It just goes to show how well supported these two league heavyweights are, and what the two sides produced on-field more than lived up to the occasion.
There was no tomorrow in this do or die elimination final, and the physical start to the opening term showed no one was going to back down.
With conditions slippery under foot, only two goals were kicked in the opening quarter – with the Goon taking the smallest of leads into the first break.
The significance of that was they did it with 16 men on the field for most of the quarter with Mat Slattery and Jeff Poels both yellow-carded.
In all, it was a hard, physical, uncompromising brand of footy that started at the coalface and included their trademark run that had the Goon on top throughout the second half – particularly the final term. The umpires had their work cut-out for them all day – with a string of 50-metre penalties and player send-offs throughout the contest.
Luke Walker and Tim Miller were superb for the Demons – with Walker unleashed after Poels’ send off. Miller was everywhere for Kooweerup, along with the likes of Shaun Marusic (two goals), Paul Gramc and heart-and-soul hard nut Daniel Mullen. Craig Dyker was again stellar down back, but this result could mark somewhat of an end of an era for the Demons – with a number of changes expected over the off-season.
For the Goon – Jesse Cribbes was awesome in his key defensive post, while Matt Stevens provided a constant threat across half-forward. The Goon was badly undersized in the ruck, as they have been for much of the season, but Mat Slattery put in a lion-hearted effort in his stints in the middle. Ash Adams (two goals) played all over the ground and stood up in a key moment late in a telling third term. The look on his face in the three-quarter-time huddle, and in the circle for the Goon’s song after the game, showed just how much he’s bought-in to the club. As for ‘lion-hearted’, there’s no one that term describes better than Goon skipper Brent Hughes (two goals). The number on his back was barely recognisable after the game – it was covered in that much mud. The same could be said for the likes Chris Adams, Josh Grant, Nick Henwood, Shannon Stocco, Luke Failla, Matt Keane and Brendan Hermann (three goals). They pour blood, sweat and tears into their club and it’s obvious. Today’s win was a perfect way for them to reward the club for everything it’s been through in such a trying year.
Caretaker coach Chris Jones would have been the proudest man in Australia in the team song after the game. The Goon was 15 points up with a quarter left to play, and within sight of victory, but the past five years would have brought some painful memories to that three-quarter time huddle. Not only had the side not won a final since 2010, it’d suffered some bitter, heavy defeats on the big stage.
And Jones delivered one almighty rev-up – one that was so spine-tingling because of how heartfelt it was.
“This is four years worth of work,” he said – staring Stocco, Grant, Poels, Adams and Ryan Louch in the face.
“It’s not just me that’s f****** desperate (for a finals win), it’s not just you, it’s everyone behind you who’s desperate!
“This is the Nar Nar Goon way and we’re going to come away with the win”
After the game, Jones told the Gazette just how proud he was.
“It’s been a difficult year, we haven’t had a home ground, but we’d still have to have the biggest supporter base in the competition,” he said.
“I owe this club everything.
“As a player, it supported me and my family and welcomed me back in with open arms this year.
“They’re there Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and they’ve travelled all year to support us. I can’t speak highly enough of everyone at the club behind this team, and they’re as desperate for success as we are.”
In the day’s other elimination final, Neerim South was far too good for Garfield in the second half at Darnum – winning by 32 points, 15.4 (94) to 9.8 (62).
Chris Urie was once again unbelievable – as was his brother Mick – while the Cats’ half-back line again stood up under huge pressure. Chris Redl was also a real difference-maker with six goals.
After the game, Garfield became the latest club to enter the hunt for a new coach with Ryan Hendy announcing his resignation.
Pick up a copy of this week’s Gazette for so much more on both of the elimination final wins (including comments from Cats coach Jack Halligan, and more from Chris Jones), as well as a review of the day’s EDNA action.
Click below to watch Chris Jones’ simple, yet heartfelt message to his players at three-quarter time against last year’s grand finalists Kooweerup; and the boys from the Goon belt out the song to celebrate a finals victory for the first time in five years.
NOTE: Videos contain coarse language.
