By David Nagel
Nar Nar Goon, Phillip Island and Warragul Industrials had reason to celebrate on Saturday, winning the reserves, thirds and fourths premierships respectively.
Here’s some key highlights from three quality contests.
RESERVES
NAR NAR GOON 7.6(48) def TOORADIN-DALMORE 6.6(42)
Best on Ground: Eamon Trigg (Nar Nar Goon)
Nar Nar Goon has a first WGFNC reserves premiership cup to love and to cherish after a resurgent Goon overrun a tiring Tooradin-Dalmore on Saturday.
The Goon gave up the first three goals of the match, before settling into its work nicely to record a 7.6(48) to 6.6(42) triumph.
The Seagulls bounced out of the blocks, with two goals to Julian Suarez, and another to Nick Lang, seeing the Gulls surge to a 22-0 lead at quarter time.
Nar Nar Goon coach Scott Kerr pointed out some areas of weakness at the quarter-time huddle, suggesting his team’s attack at the football could improve by 30-percent.
It was a harder Nar Nar Goon side that attacked the footy in the second quarter, with an early goal to Cooper Pursell settling down some nerves.
Brett Coffey answered for the Gulls, who led by 23 points with three minutes remaining in the first half.
But two goals in a minute, to Pursell and Jack Gribbin, cut the margin to a gettable 10 points at the major interval.
Tooradin stalwart Jake O’Donnell then steadied the ship with a classy set-shot conversion, kicking the margin back to 16 points; nine minutes into the third.
Nar Nar Goon’s runners then started to gain the ascendency, and four goals either side of three-quarter time would prove the pivotal point in the match.
Nick Bransgrove and Jacob Keysers cut the deficit to just two points at the final break, before Zac Smith gave the Goon its first lead of the match with a classic running goal nine minutes into the last.
Max McGreal, who was clearly hampered by a shoulder injury, then proved too strong for his opponent; opening up a 12-point advantage with seven minutes left on the clock.
The Seagulls provided a late answer, but it was too little too late, with Goon players showing their delight at the final siren.
The Goon had many good players on the day, but key-tall Eamon Trigg was awarded the best on ground medal for his impressive display around the ground.
THIRDS
PHILLIP ISLAND 3.6(24) def WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS 2.5(17)
Best on Ground: James Lewis (Phillip Island)
Phillip Island is once again the ‘boss’ of WGFNC Under-18 football after the Bulldogs survived a great battle against Warragul Industrials; eventually prevailing 3.6(24) to 2.5(17).
The Bulldogs won thirds premierships in 2018 and ’19, but have taken a back seat since Covid with Inverloch-Kongwak winning in 2022 and ’23.
The Bulldogs started well on Saturday, with the aerial presence of key forward Oliver Duggan making all the difference in slippery and slimy conditions.
Duggan appeared to be the only player on the ground marking a dry ball, with his two set-shot goals opening up a 16-point lead for the Bulldogs at quarter time.
Phillip Island’s talls, Noah Forrest Mabilia and Finn O’Brien, were terrific for the Bulldogs in the first term, while Dusties’ midfielders Regan Awty and Cody Templeton were winning plenty of ball around the contest.
Trailing by 16 at the first break, the Dusties dominated possession in the second quarter but failed to penetrate a dogged Bulldogs’ defence.
A goal on the half-time siren to Jarrod West cut the deficit to nine points at the main interval.
The Dusties continued to apply pressure in the third term, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless for two consecutive quarters, and another goal after the siren; this time to skipper Campbell Gibbons, saw scores locked at 16 each at the final change.
The last quarter was a ripper, and it was rather fitting that a mark and goal to Duggan – his third goal for the match – gave the Bulldogs the premiership cup.
Duggan kicked all three goals for the Doggies, while his teammate James Lewis was awarded the best on ground medal for his wonderful play as a high half-forward.
FOURTHS
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS 4.8(32) def PHILLIP ISLAND 3.1(19)
Best on Ground: Alex Ingham (Warragul Industrials)
Warragul Industrials is now the proud owner of its first football premiership in the WGFNC after its fourths team scored a memorable 4.8(32) to 3.1(19) grand final victory over Phillip Island.
Both teams were greeted by freezing cold and wet conditions at Garfield, which Phillip Island adapted to best in the opening 30 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs coped with a huge downpour midway through the opening quarter to land the first punch; a right-foot snap from Sam O’Garey that saw them take a six-point lead to quarter time.
Cade Wragg, Lachlan Eastwood and Harrison Carlon were terrific for the Bulldogs through the midfield; but the Dusties defence stood tall against a constant stream of attacks.
That steady stream of football finally proved beneficial for the Bulldogs, with a right-foot snap from Ethan Rhee giving the Doggies a 12-point lead, early in the second term.
The Dusties needed a lift, and it came from the classy left-foot of Mathew Cornwall.
He made the most of two half-chances heading towards half-time, with his two brilliant goals setting up a three-point lead for the Dusties at the major interval.
The third quarter was a cracker, with O’Garey landing a set shot to give the Bulldogs back the lead before the Dusties missed several opportunities heading towards three-quarter time.
The Bulldogs led by one-point at the final break.
Rylan Butler levelled the scores early in the final term, before a mark and goal to George Morgan, and a late six-pointer to Steward Oling, gave the Dusties a famous victory.
The Dusties finished fourth, then defeated Tooradin-Dalmore (fifth), Inverloch-Kongwak (third), Nar Nar Goon (second) and the Bulldogs (first) in quick succession to take out this year’s title.
Alex Ingham was named best on ground for his sterling efforts for the Dusties.
