First of many

By Peter Sweeney
THE drought has broken – and maybe the floodgates are about to open.
Cranbourne – top finisher in the home and away fixtures last season before being bundled out in “straight sets” – last Saturday won the 2011 Casey Cardinia Football Netball League premiership, 15.6 (96) to Narre Warren 10.15 (75).
And the Eagles – who went through the season without dropping a game – have vowed there will be more flags to follow.
“There’s nothing achieved by stopping at one,” coach Doug Koop said.
In his fourth year at the helm, Koop, who was recently re-signed for the next two seasons, wants Cranbourne to return to its halycon days of the late 1980s, early 1990s.
“Whether that can happen, who knows, but we would like to win two or three premierships in four years,” Koop said.
How will the Eagles do that? By emulating what their Saturday opponents have done, according to Koop.
“Narre (Warren) have led the way, they’ve won four of the last six premierships,” Koop added.
“They have got great kids in their under-18s, tall and fast. They have senior players of the future.
“And they keep their kids. Big dollars doesn’t buy you loyalty. The kids do.”
Koop said when he started at Cranbourne, he vowed one thing: to only leave when the club was in better shape.
“I think that will happen … but there is much more to be done,” Koop said.
On Saturday, Cranbourne had to do a bit to maintain their unbeaten record – and, more importantly, win the flag.
They were 21 points up at half-time – which was their winning margin – but a charging Narre hit the front in the last term.
The Magpies finished with four more scoring shots, but the pressure of the Eagles defence forced inaccuracy among the Pies forwards.
The Eagles – who had to call on everything they had in the tank to get over the line – made the most of their chances.
“It’s now or never” – a headline which was in the Cranbourne section of the Casey Cardinia Chronicle – was ringing in their heads in that tense final quarter.
The happiest man at Cranbourne was president Gerry Kelly who, cradling the ConnectEast Cup, was beaming in the changerooms.
“I’m very, very proud … and we’ll be kicking up our heels tonight,” Kelly said.
Cranbourne and Narre Warren also met in the reserves grand final – and not a point separated the teams at the finish.
Extra time had to be played before the Magpies were three-goal winners.
>>>Turn to sport for more on Cranbourne’s premiership.