Gippsland Times | AFTER last year's heartbreak, Wy Yung secured premiership redemption with a seven-point victory over Lindenow in the East Gippsland football grand final.
Having finished the regular season as minor premier and given themselves every opportunity to atone for last year's grand final loss to Stratford, the Tigers saluted when it counted, running out 13.10 (88) to 11.15 (81) winners.
Wy Yung's potent forward line was always going to provide a challenge for Lindenow, and it ended up being too big of a task to overcome.
Mark Sellings, Brayden McCarrey and James Young each kicked four goals for the match, with best-on-ground Lloyd Powell the only other goal scorer for the Tigers.
Both sides came into the match in impressive form and hit the ground running in the biggest match of the year.
Despite having less scoring shots in the first quarter, Lindenow took a slender three-point lead into the first change. That lead was gone in the blink of an eye in the second term as Wy Yung began to hit its straps.
The Tigers made up for their inaccurate start to the match with a dominant second term, kicking 5.2 to 1.3 for the quarter to hold a 20-point lead at the main break.
As they have done many times throughout the year, the Cats fought their way back into the contest in the third term, kicking four goals to two to close the gap to three points at the final change.
With it all on the line in the final term, Wy Yung coach Grant Mooney urged his side to leave nothing on the field. After three up and down quarters of football, the Tigers had their noses in front at the final siren, with the Cats left to lament what could have been.
For Lindenow, Lachlan Dumaresq led the way with five goals.
After a recent history of disappointing grand final results, Saturday's achievement will have been sure to bring plenty of elation to all involved at Wy Yung.
Swans go back-to-back
STRATFORD defeated local rival Boisdale-Briagolong by 23 points to win back-to-back East Gippsland reserves premierships.
The Swans trailed at quarter-time but led at every change after that, running out 9.12 (66) to 5.13 (43) winners.
With inaccuracy an issue for both sides, Stephen McKerrow proved the difference up forward for the Swans, kicking five goals, with their other goals coming from individual scorers.
For Boisdale, Mark Landy was the only multiple goal scorer, while Frank Morgan was their best contributor throughout the contest.
The Bombers had the most opportunities throughout the first half, but, having kicked 2.10 across the first two terms, found themselves trailing by seven points at the long break.
Boisdale’s inaccuracy improved slightly after half-time, however Stratford’s pressure reduced its opponent to just six scoring shots in the second half.
Stratford had a multitude of opportunities in the second half. Although their lead was only a slender four-points at three-quarter-time, the Swans finished the match the stronger, kicking 3.4 in the final term to seal the win.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, the showing of the Bombers in their first season in the league should confirm that the decision to move into East Gippsland was the right one.
LUCKNOW upset minor premier Wy Yung by 18 points to secure the under 18s premiership.
The Magpies jumped out of the blocks in the first quarter to establish a two-goal lead at the first break, and never looked back from there. Leading at every change, the 12.6 (78) to 9.6 (60) result was Wy Yung’s first loss of the season.
Dylan Mitchell kicked four goals for the Magpies, while Corey Dennison was the Tigers’ only multiple goal scorer.
PAYNESVILLE held off a fast finishing Lakes Entrance to win the under 16s grand final by one point.
After a tight first quarter, Paynesville broke away through the middle of the match and took a 13-point lead into the final term.
Minor premier Lakes Entrance fought its way back into the contest in the final quarter but was unable to overrun the Gulls, who held on by the smallest of margins, 6.6 (42) to 6.5 (41).
Brendan Basset kicked two goals and was Lakes Entances’ best player, while Ben McKinnon was dominant all day for Paynesville