The Warriors took a 12-point lead into the final change against Allansford on Saturday — a big margin considering the two sides had scored a combined three goals for the entire match.

The creative Joe Kenna kicked two goals and strong forward Sam Brooks another as the Warriors broke free in the fourth quarter.

Old Collegians won 6.7 (43) to 1.4 (10). 

Kenna kicked the sealer, dribbling a clever goal from about 40 metres out. That put the Warriors 21 points up.

Kenna kicked his second of the term from a set shot on a slight angle and Brooks, who was told more than 16 months ago he’d never play football again after a quad bike accident, then converted as the Warriors entered party mode.

There were only four goal kickers for the match.

Jayden Brooks kicked the Warriors’ other two, while best-on-ground medallist Dylan McCutcheon, who was relentless in the midfield, kicked the Cats’ only goal.

Warriors coach Ben van de Camp said Kenna, who won last year’s under 17 league best and fairest award, broke the game open. “He has a habit of bobbing up and doing the right thing and he’s a reliable footballer,” van de Camp said.

“He has clean skills and he was really able to come to the fore and really separate us from them so it was fantastic.”

Van de Camp said it was a hard fought contest.

“We always knew because they’re such a good football team that it was going to be a matter of attrition and at some stage the game was going to break,” he said.

“I was always confident that our boys had the ability to break the game open but it was a matter of if and when.

“The third quarter would have been more desirable but in the end we just felt once we got the first (goal) of the last (term) momentum would build from there.”

Van de Camp said Jacob Lacy, James McDowall and Jesse Molone were other Warriors to shine.

“The biggest thing we spoke about was not having any passengers and everyone when they had their chance to step up and do it,” he said. 

“It was a hard, physical game and the weather was always going to bring that in but our boys don’t take any backwards step.”

Old Collegians’ senior side went through the season winless but its under 17½ flag is a positive for the future. 

Ten Warriors’ teenagers played senior football this season.

“The mindset from the start of the year was to put games into these kids so it would stand them in good stead when they came back and will obviously stand them in good stead when they take that step up to senior football,” van de Camp said.

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au