THE Victorian Country Football League seized the annual Brian Molony Cup with a point after the siren yesterday.

Article first appeared: 16 July 2007   Herald Sun

The game between the boys from the bush and the Victorian Amateur Football Association was decided with a set shot on goal, with the VCFL prevailing 11.11 (77) to 11.10 (76).

VCFL full-forward Saad Saad marked the ball at the top of the goalsquare in the final seconds of the game and slipped it through for a point to hand the VCFL its seventh Brian Molony Cup.

Near perfect conditions at Ballarat's Eastern Oval and fierce pressure from both sides ensured a thrilling clash.

The game see-sawed between the 50m arcs.

The Amateurs held a seven-point lead at quarter-time but the VCFL reduced the deficit to one point before the halftime break.

Midfielder and VCFL best-on-ground Mark Corrigan helped steer the country side to a 19-point lead in the final quarter, but the Amateurs lifted with fewer than 15 minutes remaining.

The VAFA appeared to have the momentum in the final minute, with the city side kicking three straight goals to level the scores with a minute to go.

The two sides refused to give an inch in what became a race against the clock.

But the VCFL cleared the ball out of the centre and delivered it into the safe hands of Saad to seal the win.

VCFL coach Kevin Morris said it was a great contest.

The VAFA under-19 side won its clash with the VCFL by 48 points, 18.8 (116) to 9.14 (68), in the curtain-raiser to the Brian Molony Cup.