A best on ground performance by Sale City's Jake Schuback steered the Dogs to back to back North Gippsland Football Netball League premierships in a nail biting contest.
Schuback led from the front as he worked hard all day, throwing his body on the line and emerging from the bottom of packs lighting up the forward line and midfield in a match winning performance.
The Dogs dynamo was not alone in a true team effort the Dogs winning the game when it was in the balance in the final term booting 4.1 (25) to hold off a persistent Magpie line-up.
The Magpies fought hard to regain a 12 point lead they bolted away to in the early minutes of the final term, but it wasn't enough as the Dogs sealed consecutive majors to win 16.14 (110) to 14.9 (93) in front of a record crowd that paid a gate of over $36,000.
Magpie Ryan Potter pitted against Josh Tollner, Sale City defender Abe Schuback in Shaun Barnes hip pocket, Anthony McMahon tracking Nick Hider and Josh King shoulder-to-shoulder with Jesse Broadbent. . . . It was all so appetizing at the opening bounce.
The Magpies burst out of the blocks registering the first major which was quickly followed by Barnes first in the opening minutes of the contest.
Highlighted as a player that needed to lift by his coach earlier in the week, City vice captain Rowan Bell did just that leading from the front, slotting through City's first.
Goals rained as Darren White soccered the ball off the ground through the sticks in a magic goal from the pocket as the Magpies soared.
Going into the contest with an injury cloud, Stefan Mapleson looked to be the first casualty of the match in the opening five minutes, but quickly came back having an impact on proceedings.
It took 10 minutes for the Dogs main goal scorer Jake Schuback to take his first mark, his shot at goal missing to the near side. It didn't take long before it was back in the key forwards hands, this time making no mistake with his kick.
As it had in the early part of the contest, Glengarry responded before a check side kick by Jake Milham and a major to Justin McLay handed the reigning premiers the lead at the first change.
The two sides matched one another on the scoreboard in the second term, Heath Fox wobbled through Glengarry's first as he weaved around the Dogs defence of Carl Turner, Beau Wilson and Tm DiMarco. Mark Engley had the opportunity to make it two for two for the Magpies however his shot missed.
Schuback slotted through his second before the Dogs defence felt the pressure of the Magpies tall timber forward line.
Milham found himself filling the gap in front of the leading King, with Wilson coolly moving the ball with execution from defence.
Raffling off the footy, Nick Hider drilled the ball into the Dogs forward line Ben Chivers taking the mark in front of leading team mate Josh Tollner, his shot at goal scoring.
The game quickly became somewhat of an old fashioned shoot out, with both sides going goal for goal.
A classic piece of play by Joel Brayshaw saw him dodge two Glengarry defenders to straighten up for a shot at goal, the impressive lead up failing to secure a major. A 50 metre penalty put Tollner in striking distance as the Dogs skipped out to a 16 point lead, before Engley reeled it back to 10 points at the half time siren.
The Magpies starts to teach term were sublime, the Magpies registering the first in the premiership term with King making it two in as many minutes with a much needed coaches major.
Missing a number of opportunities in the third term the Dogs left the door ajar for the Magpies who were not content in lying down. King lifted his intensity throwing his body around, coming up with the ball time and time again as he crashed packs looking to give Glengarry the edge.
The tempo quickly upped again in the final term Glengarry with the first two as the side hit the lead with 25 minutes left on the clock.
Impressive passages of play by Lachlan Little who swooped on the loose ball across half back to drill the Magpies forward time and time again sent his side forward as the momentum favoured the Magpies.
Barnes and King tried hard to assert their presence in the contest and on the scoreboard in the final term, as the Dogs backline were left undersiege by the frantic pace and desperation of the Magpies.
Trailing by a kick, Hider moved his play maker Schuback into the middle for instant results.
Consecutive misses to City brought the margin back to a kick as the Magpie defence held strong under the pressure.
McLay sealed the leveller, before a long bomb into the forward line by Schuback from the centre clearance set up Tollner who gave the Dogs the lead.
Hitting their straps in the second half of each quarter, the Dogs put the foot on the accelerator. Amassing centre clearances through Schuback a free kick gave Brayshaw the match winner at the 20 minute mark.
Sale City holding strong in the dying minutes to claim back to back flags.
City's backline was instrumental in the side's victory. Brander had reassurance when under stress. Whether it was Justin Browns timely spoils, Nigel McGrath dropping back into marking contests or Luke McNally on the overlap for a relieving hand pass.
The Dogs rotating engine room of Brad McKay, Stefan Mapleson, Tollner, Schuback and Lutze presented all day, with Schuback the barometer of the sides charge on the scoreboard in the final term.
Glengarry challenged with their characteristic midfield control, fast breaks and, at times, audacious and adventurous ball-sharing by the forwards, particularly Jack Robertson as the side looked to remain in the contest in the dying stages of the match.
However it was the Magpies inability to hold the Dogs when they had their tails up and wagging in the final 10 minutes of the contest proved costly. Potter was judged best on ground for the runners up, Luke Forbes was a standout in the contests creating opportunities for the Magpies midfield, while Robertson and King ignited the side when they went forward.
A six goal haul by GLENGARRY's best on ground Josh Piper in the Reserves aided the Magpies to a 16 point win over minor premiers Heyfield.
A seven goal to four opening half set up the victory, the Magpies stunning their opponents who won through to the penultimate round with a convincing victory over Glengarry a fortnight ago. It was a different prospect this time round for the Kangaroos who appeared flat footed and a shade of their normal self.
The Magpies were simply too strong in all aspects of the game. Heyfield challenged on a number of occasion as they came to life in the second half of the contest, the Kangaroos coming within a kick on a number of occasions.
Piper was instrumental in the Magpies forward line going to town in front of goals in a match winning performance, with vice captain Ben Farmer and Michael Black solid contributors.
For the Kangaroos Brent Hodge was best a field, while Matt Millar finished the match with three.
It is a remarkable story, CHURCHILL claiming the thirds premiership two years after sitting out the 2009 season due lack of player numbers in the under 18 competition.
Rebuilding the junior side from scratch the current crop of Cougars rose to the occasion on centre stage with a seven goal to one second quarter killing the contest. Booting 19.16 (130) to 11.16 (82) the Cougars were sublime in a high scoring quality contest.
Led by best on ground Ben Kearns the Cougars marked their intentions in the second term as they came to life.
The Cougars held Glengarry to 1.5 (11) while slamming on 7.4 (46), Kearns booting four with Matt Harvey finishing with three. The Cougars coasting home by 48 points.
For the Magpies Matt Berry finished the match with four majors while Chris Wangman and Brian Waters were among the side's better players.
The premiership Cougars receiving their medallions and cup from former Australian Football League three time premiership player and Brownlow medallist Jason Akermanis.
By Lauren Carey
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