Banno gives ’til it hurts
PETER Riccardi needed only 45 seconds.
With his players huddled in close, the scores level at threequarter time and Thomson kicking to the scoring end, the Bannockburn coach kept it simple.
“You are 30 minutes away from etching your names in history for the Bannockburn Football Club,” Riccardi barked, inspiring his team to a six-point upset win in yesterday’s grand final.
“In 10 years’ time, we all get together, have a beer and talk about how f---ing good it is to win a premiership. That’s how close we are.
“The last 30 minutes — if you are hurting — give everything you have got inside of you and give it until you’ve got no more. It’s that simple.”
And his country Tigers responded, with best-onground medal winner Brent Jacques kicking the first goal two minutes into the final term after taking a classic mark.
Jase Tom followed with a banana set-shot from the boundary, then Jake Myles put the icing on the cake in the 11.5 (71) to 9.11 (65) win.
Thomson, a side that had lost only one game all season going into yesterday’s grand final, had no answer. The boilover was complete. The premiership was going down the Midland Highway.
“We were definitely confident (we could beat Thomson). We just had to play our brand of footy for four quarters,” Bannockburn co-captain Josh Cole said.
“The second quarter we were a little bit flat, but apart from that I think we held our composure all day and I think that it showed what it took to beat them.
“Hats off to Thomson, they are a ripping side and we are lucky to get the win.”
Earlier, Bannockburn made the most of the scoring end in the first quarter, racing away to a 19-point lead at quarter-time.
The city Tigers then flexed their muscle in the second, kicking six goals to Bannockburn’s one to take a 13-point lead into the main change.
“The thing we had written up in our team meeting was just to start well, put on that scoreboard pressure,” Cole said.
“We allowed them back in the game, but after half-time we were able to regroup and fight it out.”
In an enthralling second half, the momentum swung with both sides exchanging blows in the third term, setting up an epic final quarter.
But it was Bannockburn who had the answers, leaving the premiership favourites stunned.
“It’s a big moment. It’s been a fair while since we’ve won a senior flag out at ‘Banno’,” Cole said.
“‘Ricco’ has been out there the last four years, a few of us have been out there six, seven, eight years and have been striving for this. That feeling when the siren went, it was pretty special.”
Jarrod Westwood kicked three goals for Thomson to be the city Tigers’ only multiple goal-kicker.
Jono Casey, Reece Holwell, Matt Egan, Matt Baden, P.J. Disanto and Andrew Hodgson were all named as Thomson’s best.
Jacques’s four-goal performance and inspiring finalterm mark was enough for him to claim the best-on-ground award.
Jack Brauman, Will Middleton and Luke Bowdern
B. Jacques 4, T. Gillies, J. Tom, W. Middleton, J. Robinson, J. Myles, B. Harding, B. Miller.
Jarrod Westwood 3, P. Davis, E. Solly, T. Fenyvesi, L. Forbes, R. Holwell, Josh Westwood.
J. Brauman, B. Jacques, N. Kelly, W. Middleton, J. Cole, L. Bowdern.
J. Casey, R. Holwell, M. Egan, M. Baden, P. Disanto, A. Hodgson. were all among Bannockburn’s best.
“‘Jacquesy’, when he’s up and about, and playing his best footy, that goes a long way for us to win,” Cole said.
“He takes those special marks and kicks those special goals. It definitely helps us out.
“Will Middleton was tough all day and cracked in, Nath Kelly down back with us was fantastic.
“Big Kizza (Kieran Fulton), Matty Tyquin coming back … there were so many (that played well). It was a whole group effort, I thought.”