CRAIGIEBURN claimed its second Division 1 premiership in four seasons with an impressive 37-point win over East Keilor today.
The Eagles led the game from start to finish in perfect Windy Hill conditions, kicking eight goals to three through the middle two quarters to set up the win.
Retiring midfielder Josh Young (pictured) got the ball rolling with the first goal of the game at the two-minute mark, before Con Grampsas was able to respond seven minutes later.
The next three goals all went the Eagles’ way and from there, the game was played on their terms.
Craigieburn used its trademark speed to stretch East Keilor across the wide expanses of Windy Hill, with Tye Browning, Corey Viani and Josh Vilinskis all proving a handful for the sluggish and inaccurate Cougars.
By half time the margin was 19 points and while Peter Tsavdaridis goaled for East Keilor early in the third to peg it back to 13, it didn’t take Craigieburn too long to re-gain the ascendancy.
The Eagles piled on the next four goals during an entertaining third quarter, including a Vilinskis stunner that will go down as one of the great EDFL Grand Final goals.
Twelve minutes into the third with the margin at 25 points, Vilinskis received a deft tap from Brock Chircop at half back and took off, taking three bounces as he dashed toward Craigieburn’s forward arc.
The pacy 20-year-old launched the ball from the 50-metre line and scored an incredible goal, stretching Craigieburn’s lead to what proved an unassailable 31 points.
East Keilor’s next goal didn’t come until the 16-minute mark of the final term.
Late goals to Ben Nicholl and Luke McCormack added some respectability to the scoreboard for the Cougars but in the end, the day belonged to Craigieburn.
John Bellino was the leading goal kicker on the ground with four majors while Vilinskis and Steve Boyall finished with two each.
The David McWilliam Medal went to big man Billy Morrison, who was outstanding both in ruck and around the ground with his strong contested marking.
It was Morrison’s second best-on gong in an EDFL Grand Final, after claiming the official honours in Jacana’s 2017 Division 2 triumph over Coburg Districts.
He also finished with a goal to his name.
For East Keilor, McCormack was the only multiple goal kicker with two, while star youngster Ben Caluzzi was rated the Cougars’ best by the EDFL Match of the Day call team.
Craigieburn will again be part of Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division in 2020 after last competing in the EDFL’s topflight in 2017.
CRAIGIEBURN | 2.4-16 | 6.9-45 | 10.14-74 | 13.17-95
Goal Kickers: J. Bellino 4, J. Vilinskis 2, S. Boyall 2, B. Gordon, J. Davies, J. Young, B. Morrison, S. Smith
Best Players: J. Vilinskis, B. Morrison, C. Viani, B. Fynch, T. Browning, J. Bellino
David McWilliam Medal: Billy Morrison
EAST KEILOR | 1.4-10 | 3.8-26 | 4.13-37 | 7.16-58
Goal Kickers: L. McCormack 2, P. Tsavdaridis, D. Hill, B. Nicholl, N. Kennedy, C. Grampsas
Best Players: Not provided
