Taylors Lakes have outlasted Westmeadows in a gripping grand final, defeating the Tigers by 19 points at Windy Hill to head back to Division One.
After finishing the season on top of the ladder, Saturday’s grand final victory reaffirms their status as the best team in the competition and brings senior silverware back to Lionheart Reserve for the first time since 2010.
In an enthralling contest that saw plenty of highlights, momentum swings, brutal toughness, and spectacular individual performances, it was Steve Burns’ men that edged out a brave Westmeadows side to claim this year’s premiership.
After showing plenty of heart and dogged determination throughout this year’s finals series, Saturday’s game was no different with the Tigers fighting hard right until the final siren but it wasn’t enough to return them to Division One.
Chris Vulic claimed the coveted Ian Price Medal for best on ground with the midfielder racking up 34 disposals, 12 clearances, 10 tackles, and a goal to boot.
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The number 16 had strong competition for best on ground honours with full forward Raaf Rachrache booting five of his side’s eight goals including an electrifying 90 second burst during the second quarter which saw three quick goals from the big man to turn the match on its head.
Shaun O’Grady got the Tigers off to the perfect start in a fiery opening term when he put through the first goal of the day after Jake Hatton found the utility 30 metres out on a slight angle.
Nathan Sparks made it two from two when he was taken high, before Rachrache settled the ladder leaders’ nerves and registered their first major of the day.
Moments later, Ryan Stingel got in on the action with some brilliant thinking after he intercepted a Taylors Lakes kick in and nailed a set shot from 40 metres out on the boundary.
At the 22 minute mark of the first term, Korey Flavel-Wood sent a scare through the Westmeadows camp when he limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Taylors Lakes were able to work their way back into the contest with two quick goals through Ethan Caffari and Mitch Jones just as the first term came to a close.
Rachrache began to make his mark on the contest during a second term that reached arm wrestle territory.
The big man put through his second with some clever soccer skills that clean bowled everyone, as moments later the full forward roved the pack and ran into the open goal for his third for the day to ignite the Windy Hill crowd.
The EDFL stalwart wasn’t finished there when he marked out on the lead and converted the set shot to make it three goals in 90 seconds to blow the game wide open.
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Westy were in desperate need of a response if they wanted to break their 40-year premiership drought, as Stingel snapped the run of five straight Lion goals when he gathered a loose ball right in front of goal and put through his second to get the margin back to 12 points.
Luckily for the Tigers, Flavel-Wood returned to the ground but still looked hampered by that hamstring injury that cut his first quarter short and stayed deep.
After half time, Shaun O’Grady broke the deadlock 17 minutes into the third term.
The utility brought the Windy Hill crowd to its feet when he stood up in the tackle and got boot to ball and it sailed through for his second of the day.
With the momentum swinging back in Westmeadows' favour, Flavel-Wood’s day took a turn when he received a free kick for a hold at the top of the square.
Unfortunately, he failed to make them pay when he hit the post and couldn’t reduce the margin to one point on the stroke of three-quarter time.
Jake Hatton had the opportunity to give the Tigers the lead with seconds remaining in the third quarter when he marked 30 metres out on a 45 degree angle, but he hung his set shot out to the right.
With 30 minutes left to decide who will reign supreme in Strathmore Community Bank Division Two in 2024 and a classic grand final unfolding, both teams squandered golden opportunities to solidify their grip on the cup early in the fourth quarter.
With the game needing a hero, Rachrache stood tall once again.
After hardly being sighted during the third term, the full forward made the most of his opportunities and calmly slotted through his fifth for the day to open up a 13-point buffer.
Minutes later, the Taylors Lakes fans erupted when Christian Petersen gave the ladder leaders’ a bit more breathing space when he marked and goaled at the top of the goal square to almost put the result beyond doubt.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, they couldn’t make a spirited comeback.
Taylors Lakes didn't register another major but it didn’t matter as when the final siren sounded, they’d sealed their first senior premiership since 2010.
Rachrache's five goals led the scoring for the Lions with singles to Vulic, Petersen, and Mitch Jones.
Lockie Rayner (47 hit outs, 14 clearances) and Aaron Vendramini (25 disposals, 11 clearances, 11 inside 50s, 10 tackles) were pivotal in the middle, while Rhys Bradley and Jack Burns were instrumental as well.
For the Tigers, Jordan Kosteas (36 disposals, 14 rebound 50s) drove out of their defensive half with Ryan Capron (24 disposals, 12 clearances) putting in another strong performance in the engine room.
O'Grady and Stingel kicked two majors each with Nathan Sparks adding a goal to his 24 disposals and seven tackles.
Westmeadows will continue to build in Division Two in 2025, while Taylors Lakes will look to make Division One their home.
