A PACKED house at Windy Hill witnessed some of Strathmore Community Bank Division 2’s biggest names produce a high-quality Grand Final.
A close first quarter had two of the competition’s leading goal kickers at one apiece, hinting at a shoot-out.
However, a collision to Coburg Districts’ Luke Vesnaver’s shoulder definitely dwindled this and his absence through parts of the second and third quarters hurt the Lions’ structure.
Frustration built for the big man and the coach Chris Tankard, but a bold move sending full back Daniel Campbell off Cameron Cloke and into to the forward line helped.
During all of this, the Jags kicked 10 goals to nine and used their marquee man effectively in Cloke, who was simply unstoppable, even against three contesting in the air, and finished with a huge seven majors in the big dance.
The Lions’ attack of the Jaguars body and passion for their teammates really stood out as a key factor, not only lifting the players’ intensity and belief but the crowd’s, as they became more boisterous behind the minor premiers.
Ex-AFL stars, players on the rise and every player going hard at the footy made for a hard-hitting, fiery game, sparked by long distance goals and a lot of tussling.
Classy baulks, spin moves and targets hit from Jacana's Chris Johnson all day lifted the purple and gold in attack and the crowd was left in awe countless times.
Coburg Districts cult hero and leader Tom Lucin stepped up and handled a lot of the Jags’ pressure.
He cleanly took the ball from packs, but the relentless tackling pressure that each and every Jacana player had was too much for most of the blue and white to handle.
A determined, passionate and spirited club of Jacana shone through coach Robert Fletcher's words at three quarter time; “You and all of us know what it means to walk into the club of Jacana, now let's make this Jacana a deserving premiership club.”
His players were inspired and many lifted for an exciting last quarter, where in big-time moments fan favourite Bryce Kimuliatis stood up.
Fitness and great ball use for the Jags set up Kimuliatis for two clutch goals in the last quarter, including a bomb from 50 on the boundary, building that belief and excitement of a premiership and move up in grade for Jacana.
Pressure and will for the footy helped get Jacana over the line in the end, for what was their first ever senior EDFL premiership.
Ruckman Billy Morrison was the star, winning the best-on-ground medal.
COBURG DISTRICTS 12.10-82
Goal Kickers: A. Lamaris 3, J. Reid 2, T. Lay 2, L. Vesnaver, N. Taylor, J. Russo, D. Campbell, K. Dalmau
Best Players: T. Lucin, N. Dimeski, C. Bottomley, J. McNamara, M. O''Dea
JACANA 17.5-107
Goal Kickers: C. Cloke 7, B. Morrison 2, B. Kimuliatis 2, Z. Racovolis, B. Mall, E. Edis, C. Johnson , C. McCawley, M. Evans
