Westbourne Grammarians had to endure the fright of their lives before clinching the VAFA division 4 premiership with a 17-point win over Point Cook Bulldogs in an epic grand final at St Bernard’s College on Saturday.
The Warriors were the team to beat all season, going undefeated during the home-and-away rounds and entering the finals raging hot favourites to complete a perfect season.
But with the finish line in sight, the Warriors got the staggers and seemed vulnerable for the first time.
Even with Point Cook enjoying a commanding lead in the third quarter, the Warriors stayed composed, went back to the blueprint that has served them so well and it came through again for a title-winning 18th victory of the season.
Warriors playing assistant coach Justin Johns admitted things “got a bit hairy” for his side, but the belief never wavered.
“You could see in our boys eyes at three-quarter time, they just knew it was going to turn, they had confidence in themselves,” he told Star Weekly.
“Once it clicked and we started rolling, it felt like this is what was supposed to happen.”
Westbourne was consistently the best team for the season and deserved its premiership glory, but it is fitting that Point Cook will be promoted to division 3 along with the Warriors.
The Wyndham teams have contested some cracking games this season, but none better than the arm wrestle in the big dance.
Point Cook took a shock 17 point lead into quarter-time and maintained a slight buffer until the fourth quarter.
“They came out and took their opportunities,” Johns said.
“We were getting our hands on the footy enough, so we knew we were still in the game.”
In the Warriors’ time of need, their stars stood up to be counted.
Even when the Warriors had wrestled back the lead, their plucky opponents refused to go quietly. It took some Herculean efforts from best-on-ground Chris Hudson to steady the ship at important times.
“He played all year at centre half-forward, but today he pushed deeper at times … in the second half he just took some really crucial marks behind the footy to stem the flow,” Johns said. “While we were scoring, they were still getting inside-50s, but he was stopping them.”
If Hudson was the saviour, Adam Imber will be remembered as the driving force behind the win, kick-starting Westbourne’s attacking moves off half-back – something he did on many occasions during the finals.
“His finals series was unbelievable,” Johns said. “The way he creates with the footy and his composure when other guys are panicking, he’s as sure as any and as brave.”
Westbourne captain Tim Rogers left his fingerprints all over the win.
“He came second during the week in the league medal and I was rapt for him because a lot of what he does can go unnoticed,” Johns said. “He gets in the middle for us and just chases and harasses – he’s strong over the footy and strong in the air.
“His leadership, the way he speaks, the way he composes himself – it’s a complete package with him.”
Ryan Coy left nothing in the tank after having made a big impact in the midfield.
Johns and Charles Hunter bobbed up for three goals apiece that were crucial in a low-scoring game, while Hudson and Nick Schiano kicked two each.
The architect behind the premiership was undoubtedly Westbourne coach Roger Hand.
He stuck with the Warriors through some tough times, but his persistence was rewarded when he stepped up to collect the premiership cup.
“A few years ago, when times got tough and they couldn’t win a game, he stuck with his process, stuck with the methods he was putting out and here we are now – he’s a premiership coach,” Johns said. “He’s been fantastic for the club and does so much outside of just turning up to training and game day and being a coach.
“The way ‘Rog’ coaches, it’s never about him – it’s always about the group and how the club and the team can get better.
“He doesn’t want a pat on the back – he’s just a footy nut, he loves footy.
“After the game, as soon as the siren went, I thought, ‘Thank God we did it for that bloke’.”
Westbourne’s double premiership glory – the club’s reserves won their grand final by 35 points over Point Cook in the curtain-raiser – was the best way to alleviate the pain of 12 months ago when the seniors bowed out of the finals in one-and-done fashion and the reserves lost in the grand final.
“We’ve learnt a lot about ourselves over the last two years,” Johns said.
“Two years ago, we missed finals in the seniors by 0.10 of a per cent.
“Last year, the seniors [had a] shock loss in the finals after a really good year and it was bang – straight out.”
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