“Hawks clinch flag number 17 in an epic ‘derby’ thriller……” by KB Hill

 

A throaty, stentorian voice bellowed from the coach’s box across the eastern wing of Birrallee Park during the Prelim Final: “…..Get him back on…..”

It was Magpie coach Jason Heatley, responding to the three quick goals that Myrtleford had kicked whilst his star ruckman Chris Knowles’ battered face was being bandaged up……..

Knowles swiftly returned…..Decorum again reigned……and Wangaratta lived to fight another day, as they continued their exhilarating run into the Ovens and Murray Grand Final

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Seven Days Later: Heatley has his charges revved up for this highly-anticipated encounter with their Golf Links Lane neighbors……..He has transformed a heavily-ravaged group – predicted to fall from grace this season – into a force to be reckoned with, and is regarded in many quarters, as the O & M’s Coach of the Year.

He’s aware, of course, that he needs to shut down several stars……..The experts predict that the likes of O’Brien, Dayman, Filo, Murray, Thompson, Christie, Allison, Cattapan et al will have an influence on the game……and you can hardly tag all of them……

But what he can do is re-enforce the importance of applying extreme pressure from the outset………

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And that’s exactly what happens……

There are plenty of plots and sub-plots, and you can only imagine that this promises to be a pitched-battle…….Five minutes in comes the first drama of the day……..The Rovers’ important play-maker Xavier Allison falls awkwardly in an intended tackle and is assisted from the ground…….He will play no further part in the game……

It’s a cruel blow for the Hawks; doubly so when, a minute later, Brad ‘Squid’ Melville slots through the first major of the match……

There must be a tricky cross-wind affecting goal-kicking accuracy at the Grandstand End, as a couple of other Magpie shots veer away slightly……..Had they pierced the big sticks, it could have placed extra pressure on the Hawks.

Minutes later, Brodie Filo gallops forward in inimitable fashion, bombs a long shot, and Will Christie manages to toe one through out of a scrimmage for the Rovers reply…..Thank goodness for that, I surmise, as they appear to be just hanging on…..

You’d visualise that the game might open up after a frenzied quarter, which has resulted in the Magpies holding a slender two-point lead – 1.3 to 1.1 – but alas, this is a gripping affair…… certainly not one for the purists………

The Ed Dayman-Chris Knowles contest is one of several that are being waged across the ground.

Whilst big Ed was a major factor in last year’s decider, he’s engaged in a real battle with former Hawk Knowlesy, and you couldn’t reason that the scales are tilting either way at this stage.

 

 

Nathan Cooper, a handy avenue up forward, marks strongly and puts one through, right on the goal-line early in the second term, to hand the Rovers the lead, but Matt Hedin finds himself with plenty of room at the other end and boots the reply.

Then a major from Dayman, breaks the shackles…..and when the ‘Rolls Royce’, Lochie O’Brien, spears one through from just outside the 10-metre square, you sense that the Hawks are now assuming the ascendency.

They lead by 11 points at half-time, but perhaps the script of this drama still has plenty of twists and turns…..

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Firstly, it’s obvious that the ‘Pies are finding difficulty in keeping the mercurial Sam Murray in check……..He’s rarely kept out of the action for long, and every time he pounces on the pill the tempo of the game lifts.

In fact, one impressed visitor questioned afterwards just where the brilliant coach stands in the pantheon of Hawk greats after 83 games in Brown and Gold………My guess is that he’s moving up the list with a bullet.

 

Sam Murray

And another player who is providing a headache for the Pies is the 202cm Will Christie.

For a young bloke who gives you the impression that butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, big Will can stand up better than most to the buffeting of hard-nut defenders.

A few of the grabs he has snavelled in hot contests today are the mark of a champ…… and so crucial in this low-scoring affair……..

The 16-point lead that the Hawks hold at three quarter-time, calms the nerves of most of their ardent supporters.

After all, only 11 majors have been scored for the day, and Wang’s hard road to the ‘Big One’ has surely taken its toll.

But again, the spirited ‘Pies show what they’re made of……..

 

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‘Dooley’ Sharrock has been magnificent in the clinches all day……It’s little wonder that this fellah who fought back so bravely from an season-ending ACL injury, is regarded, at his best, by some Magpies, as the League’s best player.

He continues to rack up the possessions, and send his side forward…….and there to take advantage of a half-opportunity is their proven match-winner, the powerfully-built skipper, Jackson Clarke.

The minds of Wang supporters wander back to that after-the-siren major he kicked to get his side out of jail in the First Semi, as he nails the first goal of the last term……..He repeats the dose minutes later………

Suddenly the difference has been narrowed to a slender four points, and the Pies are looking ominous.

Again the Hawks rise to the challenge, and I can’t help feeling what a master-stroke it has been to swap renowned backman Nathan Cooper back to his rightful place in the last line of defence.

He stands out like a beacon, as he repels some promising opposition forward thrusts with that commanding big fist……..And with the support of another superb backman, Keiren Parnell, who has been excellent throughout, they form a veritable brick wall for the ‘Pies.

When Tommy Boyd kicks one, and Christie finds the big sticks for the fourth time ( and gains a stranglehold on the Did Simpson Medal ), the Hawks finally assume command of a game that has appeared in the balance all day.

 

Brodie Filo embarks on another dash goalwards, which will bring the house down if he converts, but the Sherrin veers slightly…..He’s a man for the big occasion is the dashing number 10……

Fittingly, as Sam Murray is bouncing the ball, and heading goalwards on the far flank, the siren signals a famous Rovers flag.

The scoreboard says the margin is 15 points, but it’s been tighter than that……An epic battle has gone down to the wire……….

 

Post Script: The history-books tell us that this is the fifth lowest-scoring O & M Grand Final in 100 years…… Little wonder that every goal brought the roar of the crowd to a crescendo ….

Wangaratta Rovers 9.7 (61) defeated Wangaratta 6.10 (46)

The evenness of the contest is illustrated by the match stats:

Both sides had sixteen scoring shots.

Hit-outs: Rovers 45, Wangaratta 42.

Inside 50’s: Wangaratta 48, Rovers 46.

Kicks: Wangaratta 190, Rovers 183.

Marks: Wangaratta 74, Rovers 62.

Handballs: Rovers 115, Wangaratta 103.

Disposals: Wangaratta 296, Rovers 295.