Originally Published September 12 2022
ONE flag is an achievement, two in a row proves as a great side, but a three-peat makes a dynasty.
While it’s the first triple premiership that’s stretched over five years, that’s precisely what this Nullawil side is.
The Maroons proved themselves as one of the great Golden Rivers Football Netball League teams when they beat Moulamein 16.18.114 to 7.4.46 in the grand final on Saturday.
“I am ecstatic and couldn’t be happier,” Maroons head coach Brett Barker told Gannawarra Times.
“I knew we could do it – we just had to pull it together after that first quarter.”
Maroons midfielder Daniel Watts was named best on ground for a brilliant in-and-under performance.
What made his game the more remarkable was that he had a child in late August.
“I just had a kid two weeks ago, so I’m coming off limited sleep,” Watts said.
Watts and a couple of other players brought their infant children on to the podium to collect their medals in a touching display.
Barker heaped praise on Watts and midfield partner Matt Quigley, who went close to being best afield.
“I picked Wattsy to be best on (ground), and when the heat was on early, he was incredible – Quigley was fantastic as well – there’s no doubt they’re great players, so you expect it from them,” he said.
“Wattsy has been doing it here for 12 years and, hopefully, we can keep them both.”
The day was made more special for the Maroons by winning on their home turf – an odd yet gratifying feeling, according to Barker.
“It’s a bit of a weird one, having a home grand final.” he said. “We train here obviously and play the ground really well, and to think we can win a flag when we are host is really special.”
While the margin suggests a smashing, the early stages of the game were anything but easy.
The day couldn’t have started any worse for the Maroons when Grant Ford went down in the warm-up, Matthew Hogan replacing him in the side.
“It was unfortunate to lose Grant, but Matty stood up and did the job,” Barker said. “But this flag is for everyone, including Grant.”
Aided by a breeze and straight kicking, the Swans jumped out of the blocks to give the long-suffering Moulamein faithful hope they could pull off the unlikeliest of upsets.
Key forward Josh Flight, who has been instrumental in the Swans’ finals run, started the game with the form he’s shown over the past month, nailing two first-quarter goals, including their opener.
It was clear that the Swans were trying to use their outside run, which they did early with strong stoppage work.
The Maroons were also giving plenty in the middle but were found lacking in their half-forward connection after the clearances.
This allowed the Swans to take a 13-point lead into the first break, something nobody expected.
In the quarter-time huddle, Barker pleaded with his men to lift their intensity and work harder without the ball, and they responded by kicking six goals to none in the second term.
“(Moulamein) had the wind, but they definitely jumped us early,” Barker said.
“We just needed to steady, fight harder, and change a few things.
“I thought we were playing like it was a perfect day, which it wasn’t. There was a breeze to one end and, once we adjusted, we were all right.
“Our midfielders, wingmen and flank men just worked harder from that point onwards, and that’s all it boiled down – that’s all I ask from them, and that’s what I got.”
Watts detailed what changed around the contests after quarter-time.
“We started getting on top in there and got it to our outside run with the kids, which I think broke it open,” he said.
“We started being smarter with our ball use, too, just not blazing away like the first term.”
Former Richmond and Port Adelaide player Mitch Farmer continued his tremendous season, nailing the first two goals of the quarter to bring the margin back to a single kick.
The other 21 players in maroon feed off Farmer’s presence and walk a bit taller when he’s around, and Barker could not be happier to have him on his side.
“Every time he’s got the ball, you just know something is going to happen,” he said.
“He’s either going to kick it to someone in a better spot or snag it from anywhere, and it just fills you with confidence.”
Flight kept his side in the contest, providing a valuable link at centre half-forward when kicking against the wind.
Rodney Reeves was one of the Swans’ best in the first half, finding the ball at will during the second quarter.
The middle part of the quarter turned into a contested slog, which suited the Swans as they attempted to limit their losses.
Patrick Kelly, best afield in the qualifying final against Quambatook two weeks ago, was relatively well held in the first half.
But the Swans could hold out only so long against this Nullawil side, who kicked two late goals to go 24 points up at half-time.
“The message was the first five minutes will define our season,” Barker said.
Flight gave the Swans a good start to the third quarter, but Nullawil then slotted four goals to one.
“They got one early, but then we banged on a couple,” Barker said. “And when we did that, I knew we had it won.”
In the third term, Kelly’s blistering running tore holes in the Swans’ system.
“Patty is just awesome,” Barker said. “We had him in the forward pocket early, then put him to a back flank, and he just controls the game from there.”
The beneficiary was Andrew Oberdorfer, who kicked two goals in a minute to break the back of the Swans.
A soccered goal on the siren by Nullawil almost sealed the match as the Maroons took a 40-point buffer into the final term.
Their defence held up superbly in the third quarter, with Barker and Angus Forrester keeping Flight and Beau Duggan-Hulands quiet.
“I love the back six, and (Moulamein) got on top of us early, but we changed what we were doing and everyone stood up,” Barker said.
“The back six is the best part about the club, I reckon.”
The last quarter turned into a coronation for the Maroons, with the Swans registering a solitary point compared to the Maroons’ four majors.
Swans skipper Heath Moloney, who had been the Swans’ best all day, collected Quigley late before flailing a wild elbow.
Quigley, awarded a 50-metre penalty and happily slotted his second of the quarter.
An all-in brawl near the boundary soured the final minutes when a Swans supporter entered the field of play and shoved a Maroons player.
“We knew if we could break them, they’d start arguing a little bit and drop their heads,” Barker said.
“But we concentrated on footy and came away with the win.”
Any animosity subsided as both sides shook hands on the final siren, with the raucous home crowd charging on to the field to celebrate with their hometown heroes.
