By DAVID NAGEL
IT WAS finally time for Cranbourne captain Marc Holt and his team to lie down.
The final siren of Saturday’s Casey Cardinia league grand final against Narre Warren brought an end to one of Cranbourne’s bravest, but in the end unrewarded, efforts in its club history.
Holt and his Eagles had just pushed the might of the Magpies to the precipice of defeat, but watched on in agony as the last kick of the season from rover Dylan Quirk broke a deadlock, giving the Magpies back-to-back titles with a one-point victory.
The definition of ‘Quirk’ in the Collins dictionary … “a twist of fate” … how bloody appropriate!
Cranbourne began the day as despised outsiders against the Magpies who – with an average winning margin of 88 this season – were trying to break the 108-year-old league record of 36 consecutive wins.
When the Eagles fell 38-points behind, halfway through the second quarter, the record looked a fait accompli.
But players like Max Gearon, Matt Rus, Troy Tharle and Justin Shields lifted, to the point where Cranbourne led by a goal with just seconds to play. A late goal to Andrew Hunter, then Quirk’s point, sunk the Eagles, who were looking to send coach Doug Koop out on the highest of highs in his last game at the helm.
For more on the day that broke Cranbourne hearts – and made grown men cry – turn to News Sport.
