On the premiership trail

Paul Daffey's new book 'On the PREMIERSHIP TRAIL' outlines the great WGFNC senior decider of 2019. Picture: SUPPLIED

By David Nagel

Precede

‘On the PREMIERSHIP TRAIL’ is Paul Daffey’s fifth book on the great Australian game of football, this time traversing country Victoria to capture the wonderful atmosphere, the pure joy, and the heartache, that only grand final day can deliver. Daffey’s journey included a trip to Beswick Street, Garfield’s picturesque home ground that played host to the 2019 West Gippsland Football Netball Competition decider – between the Bulldogs, Phillip Island, and the Cobras, Cora Lynn.

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A dark sky looms over the players from Phillip Island and Cora Lynn as they jog on to the sodden, green expanse of the Garfield Recreation Reserve for the West Gippsland competition’s 2019 Grand Final.

The Phillip Island players feel primed after the week’s break following their victory in the second semi-final. Cora Lynn has been monitoring the injuries of its leading midfielders Jaxon Briggs and Jeremy Monckton. The pair has been cleared to play but the Cobras’ plan to run Phillip Island off its feet looks to be dented.

Jaymie Youle and Brendan Kimber, the Bulldogs’ experienced midfield duo, bore into every pack and mostly emerge with the ball. The Bulldogs’ wave of attacks goes without reward for 10 full minutes before Kimber floats the ball over outstretched hands to land the first goal of the match.

Cora Lynn responds through Nathan Langley, the Cobras key forward, who kicks a goal on 12 minutes. But the rest of the quarter belongs to Phillip Island.

The Bulldogs lead by 22 points at the first break, 4.4 (28) to 1.0 (6), but should be leading by more.

Phillip Island’s strength again proves vital. Billy Taylor puts the ball through for his second goal of the match. We are only two minutes into the second quarter. Phillip Island is threatening to sweep away with the game.

But Cora Lynn key forward Troy Tharle leads up to the wing and takes the first clean mark of the match. The crowd murmurs, sensing a shift in the run of play. The ball-handling begins to clean up.

Cora Lynn’s co-captains are Tim Payne, the son of Ray Payne, the coach of the Cobras’ grand final team in 1991, and Jackson Dalton, a hard-running midfielder. Dalton soccer’s the ball off the ground in the goal-square to reduce the margin.

At the restart, Cam Pedersen grabs the ball out of the ruck and tries to break the tackles of his opponents. Billy Thomas, Pedersen’s opposite number in the ruck, knocks the ball from Pedersen’s arms during the course of his tackle.

The umpires view is impeded and he believes that Pedersen has dropped the ball. When Brady White bustles up to Pedersen with his chest out, Pedersen grabs White and hurls the Cobra to the ground and continues to remonstrate.

Pedersen’s crude removal leads to a 50-metre penalty. Thomas then lines up for goal from 35 metres out. The ball takes an ugly trajectory but travels straight and his teammates mob him in delight.

From the resultant centre bounce, Jaxon Briggs takes the ball. He dodges one player. He steadies, but he runs too far. The decision is harsh but the Cobras are alight.

Phillip Island kicks a goal to steady in the shadow of half-time. The Bulldogs’ break even despite kicking against the wind. They lead at half-time by twenty points, 6.7 (43) to 3.5 (23).

I have a brief chat with Russell Bennett, the sports editor of the Pakenham Gazette, one of the best newshounds in Victorian newspapers. Russell looks thoughtful when he says the game is not over yet. He is mindful of the draw between these teams on the long weekend in June.

This is an edited extract from On the Premiership Trail: In bookshops and selected news agencies now for $35.