Under 14.5
THE day of narrow grand final victories began early on Saturday morning, when grand final hosts Hay claimed the first game of football by just three points over Murrabit.
Having claimed league best and fairest honours last week, Max Hutchings stood out again for the Lions, kicking a goal and being awarded the best-on-ground medal.
Hay was able to get on top of the contest in the second quarter after the two teams were deadlocked at two goals apiece at quarter-time.
The Lions kicked away to an eight-point lead at the major break before the Blues turned up the pressure in the third term.
Murrabit kicked three goals to two for the quarter to bring the margin to two points, but the Lions were able to hold on in the game’s final moments.
Leo Ellison finished the game with two goals for Murrabit, while Alex Giddins was the Lions’ multiple goalkicker with two of his own.
Alongside their skipper Hutchings, Kobe Payne, Kyper Woods, Hilton Hargreaves, Harry Houston and Liam Young were Hay’s best players.
Cooper Hein, Parker Bray, Leo Ellison, Xavier Murray, Xaver Hein and Evan McNeil were impressive for the Blues.
Under 17.5
ANOTHER close game followed in the under 17.5s when Macorna overturned an eight-point deficit at half-time to win by a solitary point.
After storming out of the gates to kick the first quarter’s only two goals, Macorna allowed the Roos back into the contest after Ultima kicked four goals to one in the second term.
But the Tigers steadied after the long break to regain the lead before three-quarter-time, kicking three goals straight to Ultima’s one goal and two behinds.
In a tense finish, Macorna were able to hang on to the lead by the barest of margins to turn the tables and avenge last year’s grand final loss to Ultima.
Tigers midfielder Sam Whinfield added a grand final best and fairest medal to his 2024 awards haul, kicking a goal and winning plenty of the football.
William Meharry was the game’s leading scorer with three goals for Macorna, while Ultima’s multiple goalkickers were Kodyn Melbourne and Sam Miller with two each.
The Tigers’ best players included Whinfield, Thomas Campbell, William Canham, Cooper Carmichael, William Meharry and Logan Gibson.
Lachlan Bull starred for Ultima, while Edward Kuchel, Maddox Hyland, Riley Hender, Rory Bell and Sam Miller were also impressive for the Roos.
Reserves
ULTIMA’S football celebrations started in their side’s reserves matchup against Murrabit, the Roos claiming a 34-point win over the Blues.
Roos speedster Jordan King was awarded best-on-ground honours for the game, kicking a goal and winning plenty of the football around the ground.
Kade Benfield was a dangerous avenue to goal for Ultima, finishing with four goals as his side’s multiple goalkicker, while six players kicked one each for the Roos.
Jayden Kiel stood tall in defence, thwarting the Blues’ forward forays and propelling Ultima forward with his creative ball movement.
The Blues started the game the brighter to lead by seven points at quarter-time before Ultima turned the game on its head.
Ultima piled on five goals in the second quarter and held the Blues scoreless throughout that time and could have had a bigger margin than their 27-point lead at half-time.
An inaccurate third term from the Roos allowed Murrabit to have the chance of getting back into the game at three-quarter-time, but the 25-point margin was too much to overturn.
Instead, the Roos kicked two of the final quarter’s three goals and continued to freely move the ball forward to run away with the game and be crowned premiers.
Alongside King and Kiel, Ultima’s win came off the back of performances from Reece Harberger, Kade Benfield, Brayden Hogan and Sam Coffey.
Josh Bray and Toby Frankel kicked two goals each for the Blues, their best players including Bray, Sean Gillen, Darcy Hetherington, Riley Carse, Darcy Gillen and Rhys Carmichael.
