By Nick Creely
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
GRAND FINAL REVIEW – OTHER GRADES
A stunning upset in the reserves by Cranbourne and more glory for the talented Beaconsfield in the under 19s.
Saturday was truly the day of the Eagle at Edwin Flack Reserve on Saturday.
The dominance of Luke Young’s highly talented under 19 squad once again proved too much to handle for Berwick in almost torrential conditions, claiming back-to-back premierships in the comfortable 10.8 (68) to 4.5 (29) victory.
The Eagles handled the tough, cold conditions with ease, with Brodie Entwistle, Luke Bettio and Jesse Patullo each finding goals in the first term.
Entwistle was one of many players to set the tone early, but defensively, the Eagles were unbelievably stingy, not allowing the Wickers any clear space and forcing them into turnovers, which meant they went through the first term being held scoreless.
While the Wickers found some more ball through the midfield and began to use it smarter in the wet conditions, and the likes of star youngsters Dylan Morris, Travis Bindley and Jake O’Sullivan lifting their rating and winning some key contests, they were unable to fully capitalise on their improved effort, shedding the margin to just 14-points at the main break.
Like good sides do on the big stage – and with a heap of finals experience under their belt – the Eagles clicked right into gear in the third term, with Bettio, Patullo and best afield Cody Weightman snaring early majors within the first seven minutes of resumption to effectively ice the game.
Cody Weightman was instrumental in the third term, and used all of his class to have a major impact in the critical moments.
The margin stretched out all the way to 45-points midway through the final term, before the Wickers added some respectability on the scoreboard with of the last three majors of the game.
But what ride it’s been for the Eagles, who finish their time in the SEFNL as the back-to-back Under 19s premiers, an incredible achievement as they embark on a new era in AFL Outer East.
A few hours later, Cranbourne pulled off a stunner, snaring a reserves premiership from the highly fancied Narre Warren, 8.4 (52) to 3.8 (26).
The Magpies finished three games clear on the home and away ladder, and in the early exchanges, it seemed a formality that Paul Hamilton’s well drilled side – who were riding a wave of finals momentum – would be too classy and experienced.
Thomas Toner snared the opening major of the contest, and despite all of their dominance around the ground, could only muster up one more goal for the term to take in an eight-point quarter time advantage.
But a stunning, energetic five goal burst in a matter of 15 minutes completely turned the game on its head.
The Eagles suddenly turned around their fortunes, and everything turned to gold, taking in a 23-point half time lead that stretched out to 26 at the final siren.
Incredibly, after quarter time, the Magpies could only kick 1.6 to 7.4, with the likes of best afield medallist Nick Darbyshire, emerging leader Chris Ramac and Harry Bird lifting to a gear that couldn’t be matched for the final three quarters.
In a superb game of football after an early health scare in the season, the young Darbyshire was a worth winner of the best on ground medal, and looks a potential senior star in the coming years with his composure and versatility.
For the Magpies, they were gallant until the end but ultimately couldn’t stop the momentum, but Mitch Tonna, Andrew Ray and Trent Papworth were all influential throughout the game and had some great moments.
