SIX-GOAL hero Sam Dobson says Koroit’s fighting spirit shone through in its surprise Hampden league grand final win.
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Dobson, 21, said the Saints, who kicked the first six goals of the game, had the belief they could trump hot favourite Warrnambool on the league’s biggest stage.
The creative forward said the 16-point win was just reward for the club’s hard work and ability to respond after its heavy semi-final defeat to the Blues a fortnight ago.
“It is a bit surreal at the moment,” the AFL Victoria Country medallist said.
“It hasn’t really sunk in. It’s my first one and for a few of the boys it’s their first one.
“It’s just good because a majority of the community in the Hampden league wrote us off. They didn’t think we’d put up a fight or anything going off last time at Port Fairy.
“It was just very satisfying to get up and win.”
Dobson made his senior debut for Koroit at 15.
The former North Ballarat Rebel said he was proud to win a flag with his home club.
“I was a bit emotional. There were a few tears I suppose,” he said.
“Everyone rushed into a huddle but I got around and shook a few Warrnambool boys’ hands.”
Dobson had 11 kicks, six handballs and seven marks for 6.1.
He kicked four of his six goals in the third term.
The first of those was at the 13-minute mark after Ron Hoy medallist Ben Goodall won a centre clearance.
Dobson played down his contribution, saying he was happy to play his role.
“I am there to kick goals and provide defensive pressure and they were happy with me, so it is very, very satisfying,” he said.
Of his match-winning haul, Dobson said “the wobbly one from the flank” was his favourite.
“It came off the boot terribly but it still managed to go through so I was happy with that one,” he said.
“It was a bit lucky. It was all going my way in the third quarter.
“I couldn’t kick any at the other end. I just couldn’t manage it.”
The apprentice electrician paid credit to Saints coach Adam Dowie.
Dowie, who took the Saints to a grand final last season, now has four Hampden league and one Warrnambool and District league flags to his name.
“He is the best coach I’ve had in my career so far,” Dobson said.
“He just works so much on younger fellas coming through the club and structure and every part of the game.
“You know what you’ve got to do because we practice it so much and he talks about it so much.
“You can’t fault him and there is a reason why he’s so successful.”