Tarrawingee's Premiership

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle 15.09.08

Bulldogs seal undefeated year by claiming ultimate success

Written by SCOTT ANDERSON.

TARRAWINGEE’S 18-year premiership drought broke on Saturday, with the Bulldogs storming home to claim a 35-point win over Bright in Saturday’s Ovens and King Football League grand final.

But the win didn’t come without a scare - after going through the year undefeated the Bulldogs were forced to dig deep to hold off the fast finishing Mountain Men, who kicked four consecutive goals in the final term to draw within 16 points.

The Bulldogs were on the ball early, winning the clearances and getting the ball forward, with Scott Oliver, Finton Eames and Hayden Sharp all lively.

Tarrawingee had its first goal on the board inside two minutes, with Rory O’Keefe marking and kicking truly, and more followed, with Brendan Sessions working hard to ensure his teammates had ample opportunities.

There was an apparent ease about Tarrawingee’s ability to muster goals, while at the other end of the ground, despite some fine work from Bright midfielders Steve Nightingale, Daniel Robinson and Matt Kelly, the Mountain Men were struggling to kick straight.

Tarrawingee’s defenders were keeping the pressure on the ball carrier, and as a result the Mountain Men were spraying shots wide of the mark, and couldn’t buy a set shot.

Only Ty Baxter looked capable of finding space and taking a mark, and he did just that to register Bright’s only goal of the first term.

Heading into the second quarter down by 20 points, Bright’s midfielders continued to work hard, and began to dominate around the stoppages, while lifting their defensive pressure to dry up the Bulldogs’ attacking forays.

Still, the Mountain Men failed to hurt the Bulldogs on the scoreboard, and despite controlling the term, they trailed by six points at the main break, having kicked a wasteful 3.10.

The third quarter opened with Bright getting the ball long into attack, but Chris Hickey couldn’t convert after marking just 15m out, and it was beginning to look as if the Mountain Men would defeat themselves with their poor finishing.

The Bulldogs soon woke from their slumber, with goal sneak Steve Pickering stealing the impetus with two majors in as many minutes.

Tarrawingee continued to show Bright how it was done, with Rory O’Keefe goaling from a tight angle, followed by Hayden Sharp and Mick Everitt each nailing their chances to put Tarrawingee up by 36 points with a quarter to play.

But Bright wasn’t finished, and a rev up from coach Luke Brock brought some life back into the contest at the beginning of the final term.

Brock kicked a goal one minute in, and the Mountain Men responded, rallying around their leader and surging forward at every opportunity.

Further goals to Nightingale and Baxter saw the margin reduced further, while this time it was the Bulldogs who struggled to kick straight, registering four behinds in a row.

When Lucien Deane-Johns escaped Andrew James to boot his first goal, suddenly the Mountain Men were within 16 points, with momentum on their side and 10 minutes to play.

But Tarrawingee proved its champion status, with one final surge led by best on ground Mick Everitt.

Everitt marked the ball 55m out, and with no options in sight loaded up for an audacious torpedo, which incredibly cleared the goal line as a massive roar erupted from the crowd.

Pickering was the next to step up, gathering the ball right on the behind line before snapping truly.

With the floodgates open, Tim Wood put the finishing touches on the momentous win, kicking his second goal

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