IF last year’s grand final defeat was the one that got away, Saturday’s premiership was a bonus for Koroit.
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The Saints did a Warrnambool when they produced a stunning 16-point win against the Blues at Reid Oval.
Last year the Blues entered the grand final on a hiding to nothing, having lost all three encounters to minor premier Koroit. But they saved their best until last, upsetting the Saints.
In a reversal of roles 364 days later, Koroit entered the grand final as underdog, having been beaten by the Blues in all three matches this season, twice by big margins — 12 goals in the second semi-final two weeks ago and 64 points in round six.
Even Koroit coach Adam Dowie didn’t see the 88-point turnaround from their most recent meeting coming as they claimed a famous 15.9 (99) to 12.11 (83) triumph.
“I still think last year was a 50-50 game. It was on their home ground,” he said.
“In terms of this year, it’s a bit of a pinch-yourself-moment. Not in your wildest dreams.
“Obviously these guys believed. As a coach you deal with reality. At times I was thinking I didn’t want it to be a grand final that turned into a walk in the park (for them) because everyone was here watching.
“If we could get close, improve, just make a contest of it.”
The Saints did better than that. They blew the game open in a remarkable first 20 minutes of play that not only set back Warrnambool’s quest for a third consecutive premiership but ensured the game was played on Koroit’s terms.
The Saints kicked the first six goals of the match with the wind and raced to a 35-point lead after Ethyn Zimmer, Sam Dobson (twice), midfield star Ben Goodall, Chris McLaren and Levi Nagorcka converted opportunities.
McLaren, who overcame a quad strain to play, started up forward because of his inability to kick with his natural right foot, yet he ran on to a loose ball and scored a soccer goal.
It was one of several positional moves by the Saints that had dramatic impacts from the second semi-final.
Instead of Joe McLaren starting in defence on smaller and quicker opponents, he played on a wing, Goodall played on the ball rather than across half-forward, Dobson stayed deep forward, Jeremy Hausler played predominantly in the ruck rather than forward, defender Dallas Mooney started on a wing instead of deep in defence, tagger Ben Turner-Dwyer went to Brendan Moore rather than Josh Walters, Tom Mugavin and small forward Taylor Mulraney went into the back line to play on the Blues’ small forwards. All were big contributors.
“It was roll the dice stuff,” Dowie said.
Each of the moves worked, none better than Goodall starting in the middle alongside captain Isaac Templeton. Goodall had 15 kicks, one handball and a goal in a superb opening quarter.
The Blues, unsettled by the loss of half-back Michael Threlfall with a broken collarbone 13 minutes into the match, responded late in the quarter with goals to small forward Jye Turland and key forward Travis Graham to cut the margin to 23 points at the first break.
When Nagorcka goaled on the run 63 seconds into the second term, the Saints had kicked 7.1 to 2.2. But the Blues clawed their way back with three goals to Rowan and another to Jye Turland, cutting the margin to three points 24 minutes in.
Saints small forward Jesse White hurt the Blues with a goal after an errant kick-in to extend the margin to 10 points at half-time. Just like the first quarter, the Saints made the most of kicking with the wind in the third term. They kicked 6.3 to 3.3, including a match-winning four goals in the term by Dobson as they built a 36-point lead before Graham again goaled late to bring the margin back to 29 at the final change.
Graham kicked the first goal of the final term eight minutes in. It was followed by another to Rowan at the 14-minute mark to reduce the gap to 14 points. Veteran midfielder Josh Walters two minutes later converted a left-foot snap as the margin was cut to eight, setting up a frantic finish.
Both sides had their chances going forward in the dying stages, with Koroit’s Levi Nagorcka narrowly missing a goal on the run at the 21-minute mark. Four minutes later Rowan marked 25 metres out from goal but he was contentiously penalised for high contact on his opponent. Koroit went forward, Angus Chirnside was first to meet a bouncing ball in Warrnambool’s defensive 50, only to be beaten by a cruel bounce. The Saints’ White swooped and snapped a goal across his body to seal the result.
Goodall, with 45 possessions, four marks and a goal, was voted best on ground by the umpires, receiving the Ron Hoy Medal, while Dobson received the AFL Victoria Country Medal for his 6.1 haul.