For the first time since 1993-’94, Wangaratta Rovers have won back-to-back senior flags in the Ovens and Murray.
In front of 6500 roaring fans at the Lavington Sportsground, the first Wangaratta derby decider in 48 years had everything you’d want from a grand final, with massive marks, bone-crunching tackles and scintillating play, with Rovers saluting 9.7 (61) to 6.10 (46).
Magpies won the first clearance of the game, but it would take five minutes for the first goal to be kicked, with Wangaratta’s Brad Melville making the most from a centreing kick from Jasper Craven.
The Magpies had the run of play early, pressuring the more-fancied Rovers into some uncharacteristic errors on the ball.
Wangaratta were able to continue their surges forward, and looked to capitalise on their chances when Rovers co-captain and defensive gun Xavier Allison copped a rough knock to his knee 10 minutes in.
Latest Stories
Allison would head down to the rooms and re-emerge late in the second quarter, but would not retake the ground, coaching from the sidelines.
On the field, Wangaratta’s pressure was elite, but Rovers’ star Brodie Filo helped kick them into gear.
Filo tore through the centre of the ground at pace, sending a deep ball to Will Christie in the goal square, but the ball went to ground and was in dispute before Christie managed to get a toe to it on his back to poke it through the goals.
Momentum started to turn, as Wangaratta failed to kick truly, with consecutive Aidan Tilley shots sailing through for a minor score.
The errant kicking was infectious, with Melville, Tilley, and Fraser Ellis all failing to impact the scoreboard before the end of the term, the Magpies holding a two-point lead.
Determined to make up for the loss of their leader, the Rovers launched into the second quarter, dominating territory and surging with their coach, Sam Murray.
It would be Murray who would launch the ball from 40 metres out towards goal when Nathan Cooper took to the sky and brought down a stunning mark before poking it through to give the Rovers the lead in the first five minutes.
Eager to respond, Magpies’ Chris Knowles found the ball and thumped it long to Matt Hedin in a two-on-one contest,
He marked, turned, and sprinted to the open goal and put the Magpies back in front.
Rovers continued to take the game on at both ends of the ground, from Dylan Stone’s run down tackle on Melville in defence to big Ed Dayman and Lochie O’Brien standing up in the forward line and kicking true.
Heading into the rooms after the half-time siren, tempers started to flare between the two fierce rivals, as pointed words and a few shoves were exchanged, Rovers now leading 4.4 (28) to 2.5. (17).
Wangaratta’s defence were put under pressure early in the third term, as goals to Alex McCarthy and Christie pushed the game closer to a result.
Rovers continued to direct the flow of the game, but there were sparks of life left in the Magpies, as the dangerous Tilley took advantage of a mid-air collision by Rovers Justin Lewis and Charles Ledger to sneak out the back and kick his first.
Alex Federico then brought it back to 16 points, through efforts up the field by young guns Max Bihun and Blake Newton, setting the stage for a possible Magpies revival.
As storm clouds gathered, the lights came on, with Matt Hedin taking a goal-saving mark in defence as the siren blared, Rovers up by less than three goals at the final break.
Wangaratta co-captain Jackson Clarke put the team on his back just as he had done in the elimination final, booting two goals in five minutes to bring it down to a four-point match early in the final term.
The Magpies were lifting, but Rovers had enough in the tank to win out in the war of attrition, and made the most of the Magpies’ necessary high-risk manoeuvres to impact the scoreboard.
Ultimately, the Rovers were more consistent for longer, and were able to secure their second flag in as many years by 15 points.
Will Christie received the Did Simpson Medal, adjudged best on ground for his four goals up forward and impact rotating through the ruck.
Jace McQuade, Charles Ledger and Kieren Parnell were impressive down back for the Rovers, while Magpies leaders Daniel Sharrock, Michael Bordignon and Jackson Clarke almost dragged the Magpies over the line.
Speaking at the post-match ceremony, Rovers coach Sam Murray was emphatic in his praise for both his team’s efforts and the standard of the opposition.
“To the Maggies, it’s always a tough game, it’s never easy,” he said.
“I respect you guys a lot, you play a hard, contested brand, and I thought you showed that today.
“Jase [Magpies coach Jason Heatley], you’ve done an amazing job this year – we’re looking forward to going into many more battles.
“To our fans, we do this for you every time we play.
“We get the privilege of wearing the jumper, we get the privilege of playing, but every time we go out there, we’re representing you and we absolutely love you, so thank you so much.
“I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of blokes to coach - you test me in many different ways, but I care about you a lot, I love you and you deserve it, so well done.”
