St Mary’s has overcome a lengthy quarter-time delay and a determined South Barwon to grab its eighth GFNL premiership with a 20-point win at GMHBA Stadium.
After the Swans cut the margin to seven points early in the final quarter, the Saints kicked four of the last six goals of the contest to claim victory, 15.11 (101) to 12.9. (81)
The most important of those goals followed a crucial tackle by power forward Lachie Peck.
With an eight-point lead at the eight-minute mark, South Barwon star Todd White had the ball just inside the centre square, ready to send his team inside forward 50, but he couldn’t get his kick away before Peck gobbled him up.
The passage of play that followed saw Frank Fopiani medallist Fletcher Hughes mark 50m out from the Saints’ goal, with the young ruckman going back and calmly slotting a major that turned the momentum back his team’s way.
When the experienced Chris Jansen converted a set shot a couple of minutes later, St Mary’s had done what it had done all year against South Barwon – put them at arm’s length.
“It was pretty good,” co-coach Luke Rayner said of the tackle.
“Just so rapt for Pecky… it’s been obviously well advertised in terms of his journey over the last couple of years, and he’s a St Mary’s lad through and through, obviously, with the Peck family.
“And just so rapt for him that he could come out here and have a real presence, and that was a big moment.
“And grand finals, ultimately, they do come down to big moments, and that was one for us.”
More to come
X: @krockfootball
