Maribyrnong Park have claimed their first premiership since 2010, defeating West Coburg by 59 points in a hard fought grand final to return to the top flight.
After a disappointing 2023 season that saw them relegated to Division One, Saturday’s win puts the exclamation mark on an incredible season for coach Brodie Holland which saw them finish on top of the ladder and win 14 games in a row on the way to the flag.
After another excellent season, West Coburg couldn’t match it with Marby in the end for four quarters and paid the full price with Saturday’s loss their third defeat in a row in the final game of the season.
With the margin at 14 points at the final change, it was a dynamic final quarter blitz that sealed the premiership for Marby kicking nine goals to two.
James Kayrooz claimed the coveted David McWilliam for best on ground after a dynamic display that willed his side across the line. The forward kicked two crucial goals in the final term that blew the game wide open.
The sharpshooter had some tough competition from inspirational captain Matthew Gaul who was everywhere early and found plenty of the ball, as well as wingmen Josh Cole and Max Griffin who provided plenty of run all day.
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Marby got off to the perfect start with some brilliant work at a forward 50 stoppage. Matthew Gaul extracted the ball out of the pack and found Lucas Edmonds who gave it off to a free Max Griffin who drilled the first goal of the day off the wing.
Superstar Brodie Romensky made it two from two just minutes later when he snapped truly after he marked Kayrooz’s set shot that fell short.
West Coburg hit back straight away when Jesse Martini put through their first after a Muhammed Saad centre clearance landed in the sharpshooter’s lap.
With the rain getting heavier and the players starting fumble, Saad levelled up the scores when he goaled at the 16-minute mark of the first term.
After three straight behinds, Marby were able to extend their advantage on the stroke of quarter time when they forced a turnover on the wing and linked up to find Bronte Campbell in the pocket, who made no mistake from the snap.
Emilio Rinaudo snuck forward just after the quarter time break to kick his first for the day, with the Burgers receiving a let off just minutes later after Lachie Plowman failed to make the most of a 50-metre penalty.
With the game becoming a stalemate, Marby squandered several opportunities to extend their lead they before they broke the run of behinds when Kyle Harman kicked truly to open up a 12-point lead.
The game was predominantly played in Marby’s half and the momentum was well and truly in their favour.
West Coburg’s defenders Liam Bowkett and Dane Lucas continued to hold firm and denied Marby the opportunity to run away with the game.
As the seconds were ticking away, Marby were in desperate need of capitalising on their dominance, as Craig Searle sent Marby inside 50 before Will Ryan was infringed upon just before the siren to give Marby a three-goal lead heading into the main break.
The tall forward couldn’t covert and Marby were left to rue plenty of missed opportunities at half time.
With the rain returning and supporters seeking shelter, neither side could solidify their grip on the cup.
Dinny Cleary was denied the first goal of the third term, with his long range bomb touched on the goal line.
A goalless 26 minutes added to the already rising tension, however it was Thomas Wyatt who broke the deadlock with a crucial goal.
The small forward brought the Coburg City Oval crowd to its feet when he nudged Patrick McCallum under the ball and ran 50 metres to dribble through Marby’s fifth major for the day.
Thirty minutes was all that was left to decide who would lift the cup in 2024 and the intensity went through the roof.
Lucas Edmonds just about sealed it when the midfielder was given a free kick and nailed the set shot to extend Marby’s advantage to 19-points eight minutes into the final term.
Marby’s celebrations started to boil over when Kayrooz slipped over and evaded a tackle before running in and booting his second goal for the day.
The entire Marby side was getting in on the action with an avalanche of goals in the finals term as 11 Lions hit the scoreboard in booking their return to Premier Division.
Sam Calleri and Daniel Oliver put the final nails in the coffin with two more goals, before another goal to the Oliver on the siren sealed the deal to bring home a memorable premiership.
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