By TOBIE CHAPMAN
KEILOR has won its first Premier Division Grand Final since 2008, defeating reigning premier Aberfeldie by 29 points at Windy Hill.
The victory was set up by a first quarter ambush from the Blues, kicking eight goals to three in a blistering opening term, eventually running out winners 13.13-91 to 9.8-62.
Big man Andrew Browne took the Reg Rose Medal as best-on-ground, but Dean Galea can consider himself unlucky after kicking six goals in a dominant display up forward.
Keilor came into this clash having won their last two meetings against Aberfeldie and as a result looked the more confident side.
From the opening bounce they were the hungrier side, constantly harassing and chasing their opponents.
In packs they hunted, never giving an inch. Aberfeldie looked shell-shocked and struggled to handle the pressure. Halfway through the first term, they broke.
With the game poised at two goals apiece, Keilor’s pressure paid off as they kicked six of the next seven goals of the term.
Dean Galea was on the end of three of those, Ryan Allan unable to contain him.
Galea was doing it all – big pack marks, smart leads and clean hands at ground level.
Eleven minutes into the second term Galea kicked his fifth goal to reach the 100 mark for the season. It was a display fitting of the milestone.
Aberfeldie’s best football came in the second term, trailing by 43 points they suddenly found their feet.
Kyle Reimers and Zach Hislop began to find space, kicking successive goals.
Keilor locked down defensively, but Nick Cattapan broke through 10 minutes later to bring the margin back to four goals.
But the Blues response was impressive and immediate.
Sixteen-year-old Curtis Taylor in only his fourth senior game took a solid contested mark and converted from 45 metres out.
Every time Abers made inroads the Blues found a way to just wrench it back.
Aberfeldie started brightly in the third, Hislop kicking his second with only a minute taken off the clock, but goals would quickly prove hard to come by.
The message from Mick McGuane looked to be defend at all costs as a game which had produced 17 goals in the first half would produce only a single goal for the quarter.
For Aberfeldie, it was 25 agonising minutes without a goal. A term in which they controlled much of the play for absolutely no reward.
In the course of that 25 minutes they scored only two behinds despite their control of the game.
For Keilor, it was the quarter that sealed a premiership. The base was built by relentless pressure, kick ball movement and attacking play in the opening term. It was finished with gutsy and selfless defensive efforts in the third.
This was a side willing to give absolutely everything. Every man who came off the ground was spent, often dropping to their knees and dry heaving as soon as they hit the interchange gates.
At times they looked out on their feet on the ground, but they just kept on giving.
When Dean Galea kicked the first of the final term in the second minute, there was no way back for Aberfeldie.
It was a tough blow for Aberfeldie, one of many for the day. Brock McLean took a hit to the shoulder in the second term and didn’t come back until the third term.
By then, he was unable to lift his left arm and spent most of his time standing motionless in the forward line, any contact leaving him in obvious pain.
Ben Mabon struggled with a right knee injury all day but battled manfully against Andrew Browne, struggling to cover the ground.
Kyle Reimers, under an injury cloud coming in was obviously hampered but was able to kick two goals.
In the third term, with his side controlling the play he was unable to hold onto a mark inside 50.
He was bumped out of the contest and immediately pulled up lame, clutching his left leg. He would make no further appearance.
Keilor’s resolve was steely and impenetrable. The defensive unit of Mason Thomas, Michael Tanner and Mick James gave no ground, allowed no space.
Angus Grigg barely sighted the ball, Al Kefford made the most of his few touches but was largely ineffective and Reimers was worn like a glove.
Aberfeldie never looked up for the contest. Luke Blackwell played a lone hand in the midfield for much of the day.
Captain Josh Cubillo gave his all, but much of his effort was expended on asserting his physicality and as a result he gave away a number of free kicks.
Keilor were on top through the middle for much of the day. Eamonn Ogden and Kane Barbuto were impressive, combining grunt work and classy outside run.
Luke Cartelli is a bull of a man and David Isbister never stopped running. Effort after effort they continued.
It was Keilor’s tenth A Grade/Premier Division flag.
KEILOR | 13.13-91
Goal Kickers: D. Galea 6, C. Taylor, J. Kennedy, R. Bathie, R. Hards, G. Barbuto, L. McGuane, L. Cartelli
Best Players: D. Galea, E. Ogden, K. Barbuto, M. Thomas, M. Tanner, M. James
ABERFELDIE | 9.8-62
Goal Kickers: K. Reimers 2, A. Kefford 2, Z. Hislop 2, C. Sharp, N. Cattapan, R. Allan
Best Players: J. Toy, L. Blackwell, D. Thompson, J. Cubillo, J. Laurie, M. Lynch
