Oak Park has emphatically booked their return to Division One with a dominant Grand Final display capping off an incredible season.
The Oakers led at every change and stormed home with the flag well in sight to run away 20.15 (135) to 8.8 (56) victors.
The first half of the contest was more of an arm wrestle than the scoreboard might have suggested with the game played between the arcs for the majority of the first half.
Sunbury Kangaroos were able to score the first goal of the game with Jack Vivian slotting a set shot from just inside 50 three minutes into the contest.
It’d be another 10 minutes before the next goal was scored and it took some Zachary Graham magic to break through for Oak Park.
We’d enter time on in the first quarter as Oak Park started to muster repeat entries and score a pair of goals through breakaway efforts from Danny Rajab and Anthony De Lorenzi.
Sunbury Kangaroos would present themselves with two opportunities to score from centre clearances immediately after both goals but couldn’t capitalise.
As Oak Park started to find space in their forward half, they would bang home two late goals to hold a 25-point lead at the first change.
Sunbury Kangaroos had to respond first and they did after Rhys Magin was awarded a 50-metre penalty for an easy shot on goal bringing the margin back down to 20.
Despite their response, neither team was able to gain the ascendancy with the game continuing to be played between the arcs.
Oak Park were unable to capitalise on a few looks at goal before Dylan Cunningham pounced on an opportunity to send the ball goal bound and finished a delightful dribbler to bring the Sunbury Kangaroos back to within 17 points.
Clayton McCartney kicked one of the goals of the day to halt Sunbury Kangaroos’ run and extend the margin back out to four goals as we entered time on.
McCartney stayed in the game with a bit of brilliance to set up Travis Anderson in front of goal for back to back majors.
A goal either way rounded out the quarter which saw Oak Park take a 32-point lead into the main break.
Sunbury Kangaroos have made a habit of fighting back all season, but it wasn’t to be with Oak Park powering away to kick six unanswered in the third term and finish with 12 goals to four in the second half to earn the premiership and promotion.
Jedd Taylor was adjudged best on ground by the umpires and awarded the Ian Price Medal kicking two goals and impacting the game all over the ground with his utility capabilities.
Ryan Smith was immense through the midfield breaking lines with his foot speed and enjoyed the first use Hirsi Twomey provided in the ruck.
The Oakers boasted 11 goal scorers with seven kicking multiples led by Lachlan Ronaldson and Graham with three each.
For Sunbury Kangaroos, Team of the Year forward pockets Brody Watts and Rhys Magin kicked two goals each, while Mitch Kook never stopped providing run out of their defensive half.
After beginning the year 0-5, going down by single figures in five games, and trailing early in their first two finals, Shanon Carroll and the Sunbury Kangaroos can hold their heads high on what was an incredible season to make the Grand Final.
Oak Park has gone one better than 2022, won both the Senior Men’s and Women’s flags, and after dropping just two games this year will be back in Division One!
