WICKLIFFE-Lake Bolac coach Nick Willox went into Saturday’s Mininera District Football League grand final expecting a close contest and he got one.
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While the final score may not reflect it, the Magpies pulled off another stunning come-from-behind win, beating Moyston-Willaura 11.14 (80) to 7.5 (47) to claim the flag.
The Magpies only hit the front in the final quarter after trailing the Pumas by 13 points at the last change.
Willox said the win was a testament to the fighting spirit of the side.
“It really epitomises what this team is about,” he said.
“The boys ran and ran all day and never gave up. They wanted the win and went out and got it.
“I couldn’t be happier, it was a great victory.”
Willox said the Magpies’ first quarter was “slow”.
“They (Pumas) came out firing. They had fresh legs after the week off and just ran away with it,” he said.
The Magpies kicked 1.4 in the first quarter while the Pumas scored 4.2. The Magpies won the second quarter, booting 2.1, but they still trailed the Pumas at the main change, 5.3 (33) to 3.5 (23).
The Magpies booted 3.6 to the Pumas’ lone behind in the third term to narrow the margin to 13 points.
They swooped in the final term, firing off an impressive 5.3 while keeping a persistent Pumas to just 2.1.
Willox said the Magpies won the game from half-back.
“Those guys were taking some good marks and winning turnovers,” he said.
“They hit it up through the middle and in that final term our forwards started taking marks and converting.”
He said AFL Victoria Country medallist Michael Otto, playing off half-back, was vital, as was J. A. Knight medallist Dean McInnes.
“Those guys really stood out for us today,” Willox said. “But everyone stood up and did their bit.”
The Magpies had eight goalkickers, with Richard Blackburn, Chris Hilet, William Archer and Otto all scoring two each and McInnes, Josh Keys and Alistair Woods putting singles through.
Aaron McKinnis was the only multiple goalkicker for the Pumas with two, while John Vanderwaal, Luke Thomas, Daniel Guinane, Philip Brady and Matthew Peel secured singles. Josh Day was named the Pumas’ best.
In the reserves, Great Western beat Wickliffe-Lake Bolac, 14.8 (92) to 8.8 (56), while Ararat easily accounted for Penshurst in the under 16s, 8.8 (56) to 1.8 (14).
