MOYSTON-Willaura ensured a difficult week off the field finished with premiership success on it in the Mininera and District league grand final.
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The Pumas claimed their first flag as a merged entity with a memorable 11.19 (85) to 4.13 (37) triumph against Tatyoon at Glenthompson.
The win came just five days after the death of popular club stalwart and MDFL president Ruth Brain, who died suddenly in the early hours of Tuesday.
Tatyoon led the grand final by four points at quarter-time but Moyston-Willaura surged during the middle two terms, kicking 8.8 to 0.4. Both sides added 1.6 in the final term.
Pumas forward Aidan Bell kicked a game-high four goals while Lyndon Brewis, Aaron Pianta and coach Trent Fiscalini were their best players.
Brewis won the AFL Victoria Country Medal for best afield, while Fiscalini took home the J. A. Knight Medal.
Steven Butler was the Hawks’ only multiple goalkicker with two. Sean McDougall, Jake McCarthy and Julian Sambell were their best.
The breakthrough premiership added a new chapter to the football histories of Moyston and Willaura.
Moyston last won flags in 1990 and 1991, when it went back-to-back in the former Ararat and District league, while Willaura hadn’t tasted success since 1975.
The clubs merged in 2000 — Willaura was in recess at the time — and the combine suffered regular 30-goal beltings during the mid-2000s.
But the Pumas’ fortunes have turned in recent seasons and peaked with a maiden grand final appearance last season, before going one better on Saturday.