ZACH ATTACKS FROM BACK
IT took a while for Zach Walter to register that he was the best-on-ground medallist.
Walter stood in the huddle of his teammates, almost frozen as his name was read out.
A few minutes later, the enormity of the premiership and the personal achievement still had not sunk in for the 20year-old.
“It’s unbelievable, how good?” he said after receiving his two medallions.
“Obviously you don’t think about these things too much when you’re playing, you just want to get the win.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling, and it still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Walter, whose father, Matt, was an integral part of Barwon Heads’ last senior premiership in 1993, was instrumental off half-back for the Seagulls.
He provided tireless dash from defence, repelling countless Torquay attacks on his way to 33 possessions (28 kicks), 15 rebound-50s and a team-high 127 fantasy points.
His high numbers were no surprise after he was given a licence to attack from cocoaches Mitch Herbison and Troy Mitchell.
“They always drum into me those things, to use my run off half-back and everything. But nothing really changed for me today,” Walter said.
“Before the game I was pretty hungry to make amends for last year.
“All the boys were on the same page about how we wanted to play today and to get the result.”
Walter has played fewer than 50 games at senior level for the Seagulls, but he looked every bit the experienced campaigner as he starred for the premiers alongside Ryan Harvey, Herbison and Mitch Phelps. .
“I’ve been at Barwon on Heads all my life and we’ve e’ve really had to work hard rd for this,” he said.
“The flag is the main n thing, but this (best-on-ground) und) is nice.”