A SMALL town club which punches above its weight can now lay claim to being one of the Hampden league’s most successful.
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The Saints equalled Warrnambool’s record of four straight premierships on Saturday after grinding out a 9.8 (62) to 5.6 (41) win over Port Fairy at Reid Oval.
Proud first-time premiership coach Chris McLaren summed up the achievement when delivering his post-game address in a jam-packed room.
“I’ve often been told you get what you deserve in footy and there’s no doubt you blokes deserve everything you get,” he said.
“I know two weeks ago (when we lost to Port Fairy in the second semi-final) – (the talk was we) ran out of puff, too old, too slow, no drive but to that I say too good.”
Koroit, which has played in the past five grand finals, knocked off Warrnambool (2014-15), North Warrnambool Eagles (2016) and Port Fairy to draw level with the Blues’ 1980s effort.
The Saints were challenged in collecting number four. They were two points down at quarter-time and a behind adrift at the main break.
But their trademark work ethic and ability to maintain possession of the ball proved telling. They kicked five goals to two in the second half to halt the Seagulls’ goal of ending a 59-year flag drought in its tracks.
Tim McIntyre, who booted five of the Saints’ nine majors, was the difference on a day where goals were hard to find.
The former AFL-listed forward kicked the sealer deep into the final term, sending the Koroit faithful into raptures.
Hard nut midfielder Damian O’Connor was also influential, winning the AFL Victoria Medal, while ruckman Jeremy Hausler starred, helping the Saints dominate the stoppages.
Six-time premiership defender Chris McLaren, who overcame a back injury to play, said he felt an enormous relief after guiding the Saints home.
“I haven’t enjoyed grand final week as a coach as much as you do as a player,” he said. “As a player you’re just so excited and looking forward to it but as a coach you’re just going over and over your preparation.
“I think relief is the overwhelming reaction at the moment but I am certainly so happy and proud of the playing group. It’s an enormous effort to get up year after year after year and it was probably the one thing I was worried about when I took over – can I motivate them still?
“But I don’t have to, they’re so driven and motivated.”
Port Fairy defender Sam Rudolph finished his career on a sour note. The former coach was knocked out in the final term and was carried from the field.