Magnificent Bloods win flag
Trafalgar claimed a remarkable come from behind victory to win the Mid Gippsland Football League premiership trophy, defeating Yinnar 12-12 (84) to 914 (68).
In front of a healthy crowd and in perfect conditions, the stage was set for a thrilling grand final contest.
Yinnar had struggled to field its best side for most of the season, but had managed to find a way to have just one more tilt at Trafalgar, who in their three previous clashes had had the edge on the Magpies.
The game started with the intensity you’d expect, and the mistakes you might also find with increased pressure and so much on the line.
In fact it took seven minutes for the first goal to be kicked, when the Bloods Matt Goodman got his side rolling along..
Trafalgar seemed to settle first, they looked well balanced coming out of defence with the system and composure we had come to expect, but were missing gettable goals at the other end of the ground.
It took Yinnar almost 15 minutes to settle in a rhythm and hold the ball, but they too were breaking down as they attempted to enter their forward 50.
Matt Van Schaijk goaled with a neat kick off the ground in a crowded goal square and in the dying minutes of the first quarter, extending their lead to two goals, which undid a lot of the really good work the Magpies had done up until that time.
In the opening minute of the second quarter, Sam McCulloch was awared a free kick, which the talented forward converted and at long last his side was on the scoreboard.
But not one expected what was to come, because Matt Lewellin, who was presenting himself well up forward, also received a free kick in front of goal which he duly converted.
And when Yinnar ruckman Emmie Hicks made it three in a row inside four minutes of the second term with his awkward but effective kicking style, the Magpies had hit front before Trafalgar had even realised what happened.
The first quarter of frustration had all of a sudden turned into good times for Yinnar, continually finding gaps in their opponents and giving big Sam McCulloch opportunities to add to his tally, which he did on another two occasions. The skipper and coach Jaimie Aitken was controlling his team well from the back and Trafalgar were being stretched all over the ground.
Michael Stockdale added salt to the wound of the Bloods and Liam Visser with some clever work on the boundary got his sides sixth for the quarter, Trafalgar coach Clint Eisendel desperate for the siren to sound to stop the rot.
“I was pretty disappointed with the boys in that second term, we just lost our way, lost out structure and it wasn’t what we expected, so it was a hard lesson to learn at that time,” he said.
This was unfamiliar territory for the Bloods, who had previously won 19 of their past 20 matches and even in their solitary loss were not trailing at half time.
Their mojo was gone and they were in deep strife when the half time siren sounded, a 12point lead at quarter time had turned into a 23-point deficit.
For Yinnar Emerson Hicks was getting his hand to the ball first, the talented Michael Stockdale, Brendan Chapman, Danny Campbell, Matt Dyke and Tyler Chisholm were all leading the way.
And when they also claimed the first goal of the third quarter the premiership favourites, Trafalgar were now in genuine distress.
It was going to take something special and that’s what the Bloods produced in one passage of play, carrying the ball from coast to coast finding Rhys Holdsworth, who goaled.
Darcy brock then made it two in a row for his side, before Yinnar responded through Tyler Chisholm, who was on the end of a nice centring kick by Liam Visser to keep their healthy lead.
For Trafalgar Daniel Hayes finally started to present and use his pace to find room to show his skills, goaling at the 20-mnute mark and inspiring his team mates to believe they could snatch back an unlikely win.
“We really started to look more the side we are, we were more patient, used the ball better and started to play like we had for most of the season,” Bloods coach Einsendel said.
The first goal of the final quarter was always going to be crucial, given the Magpies still held a 17-point lead and one more goal would give them some space, while for Trafalgar it would close the gap to a realistic target to reel in.
It was a gap closer when Matt Swenson goaled in the first minute of the final term and now the pressure had lifted to a whole new level.
When Darcy Brock goaled from 30 metres on a 45-degree angle to make the margin just five points, it was clear all were witnessing a grand final to remember.
Trafalgar’s Klay Butler, awarded the Bill McConville medal for best on ground, was leading the way, and was supported by Jesse Stone, Daniel Puglia, Daniel Hayes, Darcy Brock. Austin Byrne and when Lochlan Farrell kicked a reflex goal, Trafalgar from nowhere had found the front by a point just five minutes into the last quarter.
At the 12-minute mark scores were locked away on 61 apiece before Daniel Hayes marked and goaled from outside 50.
That lifted his team to find something they might not have thought they had.
Yinnar wouldn’t give it up, but when Klay Butler goaled to extend the margin to 11points at the 20-minute mark, the Magpies were done.
Trafalgar had earned their premiership not so much for their outstanding home and away season, but for showing they had all the qualities required on the day that mattered most and when the pressure was on.
It was a magnificent grand final victory for a magnificent Trafalgar side.