Stand-in captain David Kane said he was rapt with his side’s 5-1 victory over Pirates in Saturday’s grand final.

But the triumph wasn’t without anxious moments.

Captain Toby Webb was unable to even make it to the game because of a stomach bug, Kane himself was under a cloud because of a hamstring complaint and the minor premier’s form had been far from impressive late in the regular season.

Kane said Strikers had lost both times the week after a bye during the regular season. They had the week off leading into the grand final, having advanced by virtue of their top-place finish.

“We had lost two out of our last three games, just with a few injuries and sickness,” he said.

“The only times we had lost all year was after a week off so we were pretty happy with Saturday. We just dominated them from the start really. It was good sitting in the backline watching all the forwards go about their business.”

Kane said forward Phoebe Webb was pivotal, earning the best-on-ground medal, while forward Kyle Eccles scored four of Strikers’ five goals.

“We’ve got a bit of a habit of going too hard too quick,” he said.

“The first five minutes we tried to control it and in the first five to 10 minutes we got two goals. But it was always in the back of the head when we got a goal (that) if we lose from such an advantage it would be terrible.

“They had a fair crack but it all worked really well for us, everyone was talking and positive.”

The club has won four of the past five men’s premierships.

Saints also made it back-to-back triumphs with a 5-1 win over Submariners in the women’s grand final.

Saints coach Chris Ratcliffe said the game was much closer than the scoreline suggested.

“It was 2-1 at half-time and it was pretty delicately poised,” he said.

“Saints had had a lot of opportunities but were unable to convert and early in the second half Submariners came out quite hard trying to get the equaliser. We were able to hold them out and then create our opportunities.”

Saints extended the margin to 3-1 15 minutes into the second half but it was only in the dying stages they scored twice more.

“The girls really had to fight hard, Submariners give it everything and pushed them all the way. At the end of the day our fitness might have been a bit better.”

Saints used star Madi Ratcliffe as a defensive midfielder but with a licence to push forward, enabling the side to keep the ball in their half for long periods of the match. Ratcliffe was voted best-on-ground by the umpires.

It was Saints’ third premiership in four seasons.

In other results, Storm defeated Mariners 4-2 to claim the under 17 premiership while in the under 15s, Mariners Red had a 2-0 victory over Technique with Emily Abbott and Stewart Manderson the goalscorers.