By David Nagel
It may have taken the senior side 25 years to break its drought but the Tooradin-Dalmore reserves are celebrating big after defending their crown against Kooweerup on Saturday.
The 2019 decider between these two was an absolute epic, with Jake Genoni kicking a goal after the siren to secure victory, but Seagulls were far too strong this time around on their way to a 14.4.88 to 6.4.40 victory over the Demons at Garfield.
The captain of that 2019 flag, Nick Pouki, is now coach, and was almost speechless after the match.
The devastating death of player Ben Proctor, after just one match this season, had brought his team closer together than ever before.
The Gulls stuck to their guns to remain undefeated all season.
“It’s amazing to be honest, there’s no other words I can say, the perfect year, and for everything that’s happened, we lost one of our boys in tragic circumstances, to keep that love, keep that belief, it’s really amazing,” Pouki said post-match.
“Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I didn’t sleep, but then I realised I can’t control any of it, the wet weather, the radar…if one more person had mentioned the radar, I was probably going to put them in a headlock.
“But so glad now that we got the win, it’s just a massive relief.
“It was a grind for the first quarter, but I thought Tom Bethune really broke the game open and Jake O’Donnell as well.
“Adam Splatt in the ruck, those three guys really did some great things in a really good team performance.
“Where we’ve come as a club, irrelevant of what happened today, is just amazing.”
Bethune kicked three for the Seagulls while O’Donnell was awarded the best-on-ground medal for his classy display through the midfield.
Inverloch-Kongwak secured its first thirds premiership in the WGFNC with an 11-point victory over Garfield, with skipper Joe Soumilas named best on ground.
And Phillip Island defended its premiership in the fourths with a 31-point triumph over Inverloch-Kongwak, with ruckman Zac Walker taking home the AFL Medal for best on ground.
The Bulldogs have played in all four grand finals in the 16s, losing in 2017 and ’18 before now claiming back-to-back titles.
WGFNC GRAND FINAL SCOREBOARD
RESERVES
TOORADIN-DALMORE 3.1 6.2 10.3 14.4(88)
KOOWEERUP 3.0 3.0 4.4 6.4(40)
Tooradin-Dalmore Goals: Thomas Bethune 3, Johnny Duff 2, Jordan Jones 2, Jake Genoni, Lauchlan Gregson, Michael Hobbs, Timothy Lenders, Kristopher Sabbatucci, Joshua Trezise, James Wheeler. Best: Thomas Bethune, Jake O’Donnell, Adam Splatt, Michael Hobbs, Johnny Duff, Timothy Lenders.
Kooweerup Goals: Mitch Molloy 2, Mitchell Davey, Matthew Drommel, Kalin Parker, Ryan Wilby. Best: Jason Stokkel, Jason Kelly, Ryan Wilby, Mitch Molloy, Matt Bolleman, Brannon Harrison.
AFL Medal: Jake O’Donnell (Tooradin-Dalmore).
THIRDS
INVERLOCH-KONGWAK 1.2 2.4 2.6 4.7(31)
GARFIELD 1.0 2.0 2.1 3.2(20)
Inverloch-Kongwak Goals: Sasha Allen, Tyson Bolam, Taite Cumming, Callan O’Flynn. Best: Taite Cumming, Jack Butcher, Joe Soumilas, Lucas Harmer, Jaxon Hayes, Tyson Bolam.
Garfield Goals: Isaac Braaksma 3. Best: Darby Craven, Isaac Braaksma, Charlie Fitzpatrick, Jed Pinkerton, John Zaccari, Levi Reid.
AFL Medal: Joe Soumilas (Inverloch-Kongwak).
FOURTHS
PHILLIP ISLAND 2.2 5.2 5.6 7.8(50)
INVERLOCH-KONGWAK 1.0 2.0 2.0 3.1(19)
Phillip Island Goals: Finn O’Brien 4, Benjamin Chihotski 2, Daniel Caffieri. Best: Finn O’Brien, Zac Walker, Leo Savona, Darcy Thompson, William Peppard, Yianni Caffieri.
Inverloch-Kongwak Goals: Jobe Scapin 2, Willem Duursma. Best: Archie Terlich, Patrick Dwyer, Jett Garnham, Lucas Allen, Harry Butcher, Willem Duursma.
AFL Medal: Zac Walker (Phillip Island).
