The Northern Football Netball League (NFNL) grand final was a test of the best, and when South Morang challenged Diamond Creek at the Preston City Oval on Saturday, the crowd were treated to an inspirational match.
The metropolitan oval seemed sheltered from the extreme hail and wind sweeping across Victoria, but in Preston the conditions were favourable, though the centre square was muddy.
Three South Morang teams made it into the 2024 grand final.
The South Morang U19.5 team were defeated by St Mary’s by 31 points, 4.4 (28) to 8.11 (59), while the Reserves defeated Diamond Creek by five points with Cayden Failla, Mathew Robinson, Bailey Clarke, Nicholas Comi, Ben Peterson, and Ben Power named among the best players.
The much anticipated opening bounce of the Seniors match between South Morang and Diamond Creek was contested by each team, and after five minutes, South Morang’s Liam Jolly scored the opening goal. Tom Baird for Diamond Creek kicked the next, before South Morang’s Joshua D’Intinosante kicked another goal. It was a low scoring quarter but with plenty of action, ending 2.1 (13) to 1.0 (6).
Diamond Creek scored the first goal of the second quarter on the four-minute mark, and South Morang’s Bailey Brown replied with a goal. Diamond Creek players forced the ball to their end and Jett Mclaughlan rewarded them with a goal, and thereafter kicked back-to-back points.
South Morang’s D’Intinosante kicked two goals, and when the siren sounded to end the first term, South Morang finished in front by six points, 5.1 (31) to 3.7 (25).
Fresh from the half time break, the teams took their positions. Diamond Creek scored first with a behind after an intense three minutes, then another near the 12-minute mark, but the Lions exploded onto the scoreboard with four back-to-back goals, leaving Diamond Creek with a 31-point deficit to make up in the final quarter.
In the final quarter, the sun shone and D’Intinosante scored the opening goal for South Morang. Diamond Creek’s Ben Major scored their first goal.
The Creekers had three back-to-back goals and were making a comeback.
The Lions then got possession, but they had no one in their forward 50 to pass it to, so Diamond Creek rushed it back to the country end and scored a point.
To win the game Diamond Creek needed 11 points. Major was tucked away neatly in the forward 50 and he took a mark, quickly lined up, and kicked a goal, making it his second for the day and reducing the Lion’s advantage to five points.
The clock was ticking down and the shadows of the evening were creeping in. When Diamond Creek’s ruckman Robby Noble won the next tap, their side’s ball carriers created a much-needed point. Jesse John Christidis for the Lions had possession of the ball when the siren sounded, and every South Morang player rushed to pat their captain on the back, and the mob quickly attracted their families and faithful supporters, with South Morang defeating Diamond Creek 10.5 (65) to 8.11 (59).
Around 800 people viewed the game via the NFNL’s live stream on Facebook.
At the post-game presentations, Diamond Creek Coach Andrew Tranquilli congratulated the Lions, the umpires, and the league.
South Morang Coach Garry Hall said he felt for Diamond Creek and also thanked his players, the sponsors, committee members, and supporters.
The Best on Ground medal was awarded to Nathan Stefanile.
Goal kickers were Joshua D’Intinosante with four, and Tye Hall with two, while Bailey Brown, Kain Hall, and Liam Jolly each kicked one.
Best players were Nathan Stefanile, Tye Hall, Joshua D’Intinosante, Kain Hall, Tyrone Leonardis, and Bailey Brown.
