In glorious conditions at Donaldson Park Wedderburn the St Arnaud Saints took out the 2015 premiership, their first since 1999. Charlton the side they defeated were gallant in defeat when they looked out of the contest at three quarter time when they trailed by 26-points, only to fight their way back into the contest and actually hit the front midway through the final term before the Saints struck back to claim the Halfhide Cup. Charlton has contested the past three grand finals without any success coming their way.
St Arnaud pulled off the double by also winning the reserves premiership where they reversed their performance of the second semi-final to run our easy winners over Wycheproof-Narraport who had defeated them by a good margin in the second semi.
Wedderburn claimed back to back premierships in the under sixteen competition to take home the Jeff Guild Shield when the easily accounted for the Birchip-Watchem Bulls who had won their way through to the grand final after defeating St Arnaud in last week’s preliminary final.
Boort has claimed the under thirteen premiership with solid first quarter which set up their win. Boort kicked four first quarter goals and only kicked one point in the next three quarters but run out winners by 8-points.
Charlton v St Arnuad
Both sides entered this grand final with similar grand final history, for both clubs had been beaten by a point in their previous grand final appearance. Charlton were first on the board with a goal to Vigus which would be their only goal for the term. St Arnaud took some time to post their first goal which came off the boot of Nick Coughlan at the twenty minute mark. Charlton squandered many opportunities up forward adding six minor scores to go with their single goal to give them a six point lead at quarter time. The first term was fairly normal for opening quarters in grand finals with both sides making some fundamental mistakes and missing the opportunity to set up an early lead.
In the opening minutes of the second quarter the Saints levelled the scores curtesy of a Nathan Coglan goal. Charlton then found some form and quickly posted the next three goals to give them a handy lead at the halfway mark of the term. Jacob Tillig reduced the margin back with a goal for the Saints but Danny Wright replied for the Navy Blues and right on siren time Saints Coach James McNamee put the Saints back within 9-points and we had a game on our hands.
After the long break the third quarter was dominated by St Arnaud who kicked the first five goals of the term to overtake the Navy Blues and kick out to a twenty three point lead. Charlton’s Luke Kyriakides brought the Saints lead back to around the three goal mark before Cooper and Nick Coghlan kicked the last two goals of the quarter to see the Saints go to the final break holding a twenty six point lead and were looking the better of the two sides with a quarter to go in the seasons decider.
Charlton looking defeat in the face for the third year in a row were not going to go down without a fight and this was evident when Coach Aaron Walklate kicked the first of the Navy Blues five unanswered goals. Charlton had turned the tables on the Saints in the final term and when Baird kicked his only goal for the day the Navy Blues had hit the front and they looked like they just may go on with it. From the centre bounce wells got the ball to Vassallo who pushed forward to goal and the saints had reclaimed the lead as time was running out and when BOG player Nick Coghlan kicked his fifth goal the Saints held an eight point’s lead. From the restart St Arnaud again pushed the ball forward where Andrew Jesse marked the ball right on the siren and a quick check of the score seeing the Saints were home he decided not to take the kick and the celebrations commenced for the Saints who had broken a sixteen year drought since their last premiership. The Navy Blues put in a determined effort to put themselves back in the contest and after pulling back the lead which the Saints held and then hitting the front their supporters were back in voice only to see the Saints come over the top to spoil their party and this loss would be their third grand final loss in as many years. Overall it was a great grand final which in the end was decided by just eight points and kept the large crowd entertained all day in a game that was played true Aussie spirit and it was credit to both sides for the way they played the game out right to the final siren which seen the Saints crowned as premiers for 2015.
Final scores St Arnaud 13-8=86 def Charlton 11-12=78
Best for the Saints: Nick Coghlan (Des Darcy Medal) Luke Wells (AFL Victoria Country Medal), James McNamee, Justin Cooper, Harley Durward and Andrew Jesse.
Goals: Nick Coghlan 5, Nathan Coghlan 2, single Gavin Vassallo, Jacob Tillig, James McNamee, Justin Cooper, Ben Batters and Andrew Jesse.
Best for Charlton: Rhys Thompson, Luke Mulquiny, Aaron Walklate, James Baird, Sam O’Connor and Luke Kyriakides. Goals: Mark Vigus, Luke Kyriakides 2, singles Aaron Walklate, Mick Laffin, Danny Wright, James Baird, Luke Mulquiny, Anthony Judd and Joe McGrath.
Reserves
St Arnaud 13-9= 87 def Wycheproof-Narraport 2-4=16 BOG Medal Beau Knight, St Arnaud
Under 16’s
Wedderburn 8-14=62 def Birchip-Watchem 3-5=23 AFL Victorian Country Medal Joe Lockhart, Wedderburn
Under 13’s
Boort 4-4=28 def Birchip-Watchem 3-2 = 20 BOG Medal Brody Colbert,Birchip-Watchem
Last Modified on 25/10/2015 21:15