Bendigo Advertiser |
WEDDERBURN continued the central Victorian trend of clubs winning multiple premierships in a row when it won its third-consecutive North Central Football League flag on Saturday.
The Redbacks prevailed by 12 points against Charlton in a tight grand final at Donald, winning 12.13 (85) to 10.13 (73).
In what was an arm-wrestle all game, the biggest margin at any of the breaks was the 12 points at the final siren.
Charlton led by four points at quarter-time, while the Redbacks were three points up at half-time and eight points in front at three quarter-time.
"It was a really hard-fought game all day," Wedderburn coach Daniel Gash said.
"We got out to about a four-goal lead halfway through the last quarter, which was the biggest lead of the day.
"But Charlton kept coming at us and it was just one of those games where you didn't know which way it was going to go all day.
"It was meant to be what grand finals are like and it's fantastic we got over the line... three premierships in a row, we're happy with that."
The Des Darcy Medal for best on ground was won by Wedderburn centre half-back Rohan McHugh.
Wedderburn's Brady Herdman earned the AFL Victoria Country Medal for his brilliant game at centre half-forward as his outstanding finals form continued.
Other better players for the Redbacks included Riley McIvor, who was ferocious in his attack on the ball, wingman/half-back Cameron Perry and back-up ruckman Adam Postle.
Full-forward Sam Barnes bagged five goals for the Redbacks to end the season with 82, while Herdman and Marc Reiffel added two each.
The Redbacks winning the flag comes after they had ended the home and away season fourth.
Charlton's best were Kieran Sait, Matthew Winsall, Carl Thiesz and Joseph McLean, while Joseph McGrath was the only multiple goalkicker with two.
Wedderburn (three) joins Golden Square (five), Bridgewater (four) and Lockington-Bamawm United (three) as central Victorian clubs who have continued premiership streaks this year.
In winning, the Redbacks became the first NCFL club since Wycheproof-Narraport (1995-97) to win three flags in a row.
