Berry tops in Big V victory

By Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE’S Justin Berry and Nar Nar Goon’s Matt Wade starred in Victoria’s successful Australian Country Football Carnival campaign in Canberra last week.
Berry booted three goals in the VCFL Major League side’s grand final win on Sunday and was among eight Victorian representatives to be selected in the All Australian side.
He was one of four Casey Cardinia League players to play for the Major League side in the carnival that also included the cream of country football from South Australia, the ACT, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland, together with the best players from the Victoria District League competition.
Wade, who was among five Ellinbank and District Football League players in the District team, was named as his side’s player of the carnival.
Berry’s team mates included Pakenham pair Jared Goldsack and Luke Walker, along with Narre Warren gun Nick Scanlon and all four contributed significantly to the Big V’s 85-point grand final victory over South Australia on Sunday.
The Victorian side played six preliminary games, consisting of two 17-minute halves each, on Thursday and Friday, before having Saturday to rest and them meeting South Australia in a full scale, four-quarter grand final at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
The preliminary games saw the Victorians, coached by former Hawthorn great Peter Knights, win five matches and lose only one to reach the grand final as the best performed side.
On Thursday they beat South Australia by 21 points, went down to the ACT by 17 points and then beat the Victoria 2 side by 14 points, while on Friday victories were scored over NSW by 46 points, Queensland by 35 points and WA by 20 points.
The final score in the one-sided grand final was Victoria 23.13 (151) to SA 9.12 (66).
All five MPNFL players, which also included Adam Hunter from Dromana, represented their clubs and league with distinction in the Big V’s success over the carnival, and Goldsack’s effort to play through the pain of a severe finger injury provided the inspiration to win Sunday’s grand final.
The Pakenham captain was treated for a severely infected cut to his finger on Friday and Saturday but donned a glove and worked his way through the pain to contribute his part in the stunning win.
Knights was ecstatic after the siren and praised his side for their approach to the campaign.
“This has been the best possible conclusion of 10 weeks of work by all the guys in our team. To be crowned National Champion, and to have represented the Big V with such distinction is an honour and a privilege. I am immensely proud of the spirit shown by our guys,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ellinbank and District Football League enhanced its status as one of the best VCFL District leagues after its five representatives – the most of any league in the State – all distinguished themselves with terrific performances.
Nar Nar Goon’s Brett Dore and Matt Wade, Neerim Neerim South’s Chris Urie, Warragul Industrials’ Shane Brewster and Cora Lynn’s Matt Robinson all represented the VCFL2 team. While the side only won one game for the carnival, it only lost by very narrow margins against Queensland, ACT and WA.
Wade was an unlikely star for the VCFL2 team, coming into the side as one of the least credentialed players in the squad and went home with the honour of winning both Victorian District team player of the carnival awards, one voted by the coaching panel and the other by an independent panel, comprising of the umpires and observers.
“He won plaudits from everyone and is a credit to his club and his family,” said Sutton of Wade’s efforts and demeanour over the course of the carnival.
According to Sutton, Wade, who played wing, on ball and across the half-forward flank and was a driving force every game, covered plenty of territory and his second efforts were outstanding.
“All the EDFL players were fantastic and should they still be in a district league next year will all be likely to be among the first picked,” he added.