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AFLcountryWith the country footy leagues nearing an end to the 2015 season, Adam McNicol takes the opportunity to pick out the big winners and success stories of this year.

The drought breakers
Dennington won its first Warrnambool and District league premiership since 1988 by scoring a gutsy eight-point win over Merrivale in the grand final at Warrnambool's Reid Oval. The Dogs did it the hard way, conceding the first seven goals of the game, before fighting back to trail by just five points at three-quarter time. Inspired by a passionate speech from their 32-year-old playing-coach Darcy Lewis, the Dogs prevailed by kicking five goals to three in a gripping final quarter. Alex Pye was the hero for Dennington up forward. Pye kicked six goals, all of them in the second half. There was a real family flavour to the victory. The Dogs' previous flag was coached by Lewis' father Geoff.

Elsewhere, Darley broke a long run of outs by winning their first senior flag since 1995 and their first in the Ballarat league (the club has been part of the BFL since 1997). The Devils, who lost the 2008 grand final in heartbreaking circumstances when Ballarat Swans skipper Ash Baker kicked a goal after the siren, were far too good for the reigning premier, North Ballarat City. Inaccurate kicking for goal early on saw Darley lead 4.13 to 2.4 at half-time. They straightened up from there, kicking 7.5 to 1.1 in a very one-sided second half to win by 61 points. Former Collingwood player and current Geelong assistant coach Shane O'Bree, who is a cousin of Darley captain-coach Jarrod Edwards, was part of the Devils' line-up.

The perennial success stories
Bridgewater claimed their sixth successive Loddon Valley league premiership by thrashing Mitiamo in the grand final. The Mean Machine, coached by former Richmond and Carlton midfielder Andrew Collins, were six goals up at half-time and never looked back from there. Another former Tiger, Daniel Connors, was best on ground. Bridgewater is the second club to win six straight flags in the Loddon Valley league in recent times. Calivil United won six on the trot between 2003 and 2008.

Red Cliffs made it back-to-back flags in the Sunraysia league by upsetting Imperials in the grand final. The Tigers, under the coaching of Shannon Motlop, trailed by 22 points at quarter-time but steadily worked their way back into the contest, eventually prevailing by eight points. Ex-Essendon and St Kilda midfielder Andrew Lovett was among Red Cliffs' best players.

The fairytale
Just a year ago, the Tallangatta footy club was contemplating how to get back on their feet after finishing on the bottom of the Tallangatta and District league ladder. Last weekend, however, the Hoppers celebrated a remarkable rise from bottom to top when they defeated Kiewa-Sandy Creek in a thrilling grand final. After scores were tied when the final siren sounded, the teams were ordered to play an additional five minutes each way. Kiewa-Sandy Creek opened a seven-point lead during the first period of extra-time, before Tallangatta hit back to level the scores. With the clock ticking down, and the possibility of golden-point extra-time looming, the Hoppers scored a behind and won 11.10 (76) to 9.21 (75).

The last winners
The Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers secured the last Mallee league premiership with a 54-point win over Ouyen United. Veteran forward Cliff Ryan and former Carlton player Jordan Doering both kicked five goals for the winners. The much-loved competition, which was formed prior to the 1997 season by a merger of the Northern Mallee and South Mallee leagues, is now in the process being wound up. Of the five clubs that were part of the MFL this year, Ouyen United is set to merge with Walpeup-Underbool and move to the Sunraysia league, while Woomelang-Lascelles is going into recess. The Southern Mallee Giants (a merger of Beulah and Hopetoun) are planning to join the Horsham District league, while the Tigers have lodged an application to join the North Central league.

Sunday's games

The Peninsula Football League premiership is up for grabs when Frankston YCW takes on Mornington at Frankston Park on Sunday afternoon. The teams met in last year's grand final, with Frankston YCW prevailing by six points.

What has been a topsy-turvy finals series in the Goulburn Valley league will also continue on Sunday when Benalla takes on Rochester in the preliminary final. Rochester last weekend snapped a seven-game losing streak in finals matches when they thumped Seymour in the first semi.

Benalla, meanwhile, was on the end of a boilover when they lost the second semi to Kyabram, which has made the most of the GVFL's patently unfair final six system. Benalla is aiming to keep alive their hopes of winning their first flag since 1973 (back then the club was part of the Ovens and Murray league). Rochester won their most recent premiership in 2008.

Another much-anticipated clash will take place on Sunday afternoon in north-east Victoria when Albury and Lavington do battle in the Ovens and Murray league grand final. It is the first decider that hasn't featured both Albury and Yarrawonga since Wangaratta defeated Lavington in 2008, and a large crowd is expected.

By Adam McNicol

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