Loss in 2016 decider makes premiership all the sweeter for skipper

BANNOCKBURN co-captain Lincoln Peters says it is hard to describe the feeling of leading his Tigers to a droughtbreaking premiership win.

Before yesterday’s GDFL boilover at The Gordon TAFE Oval, Bannockburn’s last premiership came in 2003.

Peters was also part of the loss to Bell Post Hill in 2016.

The length of time between wins, and that 2016 loss, made the moments after the siren yesterday all the more special for the competitive midfielder.

“It’s unbelievable. I’ve been waiting years for this — it’s unbelievable,” Peters said.

“There’s more than 10 of us who played in that 2016 flag and lost, so to get this win is unbelievable. It’s the best feeling ever.

“This group is a one-of-akind, we will never play together again. But I couldn’t have picked a better 22 to have played with.”

Nobody gave Bannockburn a hope of winning, given Thomson’s dominance through the home-and-away season.

Only one side — Werribee — had defeated the city Tigers in 2019 and Thomson also breezed past Bannockburn a fortnight ago in the second semi-final.

But Peters said the playing group never lost its confidence and went in to yesterday’s clash with the belief they could turn the tables on the big stage.

“We were that confident. We knew they had played two games in four weeks, while we had played four in four weeks,” he said.

“We just knew we had them — we had that confidence. We were the underdogs, but we got over them.”

Down by 13 points at halftime, Peters said Bannockburn licked its lips when the rain started coming down.

The country Tigers managed to level the scores level by the final change and put in a final quarter for the history books to collect the premiership trophy.

“The rain settled in and we just dug a heap deeper and managed to get them,” he said.

The win is Peters’s first premiership, losing the 2016 grand final and another one in the Wimmera.

“It was my third grand final, so I’ve finally got one,” he said.

“It’s definitely (what I imaged winning a grand final would feel like). Actually, it’s a lot better.”

The premiership is coach Peter Riccardi’s first flag as well, ending a senior drought highlighted by three losing AFL grand finals.

As the Bannockburn players sung the club song in the middle of the ground, the players mobbed Riccardi.

You could see the relief on his face too, celebrating with his coaches on the boundary when the siren sounded.

“I said to him as we were walking up the stairs (to collect the premiership cup) that he’s finally got one,” Peters said.