CALDER United Lions capped their first season in the North Central FNL by winning the Goldacres senior footy grand final clash with Birchip-Watchem on Saturday in Wedderburn.
Formed by the merger of Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport, Calder United had broken the Bulls’ unbeaten run in the second semi-final.
The Lions had Darryl Wilson who was a multiple premiership-winning coach at Strathfieldsaye and Colbinabbin in a non-playing role to team with Jordan Humphreys as playing coach.
On Saturday they faced the Ash Connick-coached Bulls in the season’s biggest match at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Last September, Connick was a premiership-winning coach of Sandhurst which had Bryce Curnow as playing co-coach.
Century goalkicker Ben Edwards gave the Bulls a flying start with consecutive goals by the 3.40 minute mark.
It took the Lions until the seventh minute to register their first goal when Steven Kennedy was on target.
The Bulls replied off the boot of Lachy Foott to lead 20-6.
When Marshall Rippon was on target it was a 19-point lead for Birchip-Watchem.
Lions’ co-captain Rylee Smith goaled in the 18th minute before Edwards slotted his third major.
Experienced on-baller Matt Wade put the Lions within 13 points by quarter-time.
When Rick Allan goaled for Calder United in the fifth minute of the second term the Bulls were up by just seven points.
Edwards beat the Lions defence once again before Mitch Farmer goaled for the Lions.
Birchip-Watchem had Edwards reply to lead 46-35 by half-time.
In the third quarter it was the Lions who started to outrun the Bulls.
A goal by the skilful Zane Keighran and another by Rylee Smith put Calder United in front, 49-47 in the seventh minute.
The Bulls regained the lead through Tom Gibson.
Spurred on by many fans, Calder United slammed on three goals in five minutes through Dale Pearce, Kobe Lloyd and Zane Keighran.
The Lions had turned a two-goal deficit at half-time into a 14-point going into the season’s final quarter.
Heat was high as Tom Gibson and Meyrick Buchanan capped fine play by the Bulls to draw within four points in the fourth minute.
A Steven Kennedy goal for the Lions was to be the last of the contest as the Lions clung on for an 80-70 victory.
Co-captains Koby Hommelhoff and Rylee Smith raised the premiership cup.
Best for Calder United were Steven Kennedy, Zach Caccaviello, Kobe Lloyd, Rylee Smith, Koby Hommelhoff and Daniel Watts.
Birchip-Watchem’s best were Ben Lakin, Meyrick Buchanan, Ben Edwards, Nicholas Rippon, Hamish Hosking and Lachlan Ryan.
After the premiership win in 2022, Birchip-Watchem has finished runner-up three seasons in a row.
Calder United Lions premiership team:
B: Boe Bish, Josh Walsh, Daniel Watts.
Hb: Jordan Humprheys, Oscar Madden, Jack Marlais.
C: Charlie Fawcett, Matt Wade, Rylee Smith.
Hf: Jack Exell, Matthew Trzeciak, George Turner.
F: Koby Hommelhoff, Dale Pearce, Mitch Farmer.
Foll: Dean Putt, Steven Kennedy, Zane Keighran.
Inter: Rick Allan, Kobe Lloyd, Zach Caccaviello.
Coaches: Jordan Humphreys, Darryl Wilson.
A memorable day for Calder United Lions included victory in the Haesulers reserves clash with Birchip-Watchem.
The Lions charged to a 34-2 lead by quarter-time and were up 50-14 by the long break.
It was a closely-fought second half in which Calder United won the third term, 20-14, and the Bulls the last, 33-25.
The Lions roared to a 95-61 victory.
Five goals by Hunter Connolly earnt best-on-ground honours.
Other goalkickers for Calder United were Heath Senior, four; Cody Green and Darcy Munro , two; and Tiger Vearing.
The Bulls’ goalkickers were George Addis, Matt Berry, Callum Goode, Riley Hogan Jr, Jack Lee, Stefan Pye, Joseph Reid and Tison Wiantara.
Best for Calder United Lions were Hunter Connolly, Joel Turner, Dane McLennan, Billy Forrester, Zac Kelly and Heath Senior.
Birchip-Watchem’s best were Riley Hogan Jr, Stefan Pye, Jack Lee, Lochlan Sirett and James Lindeback.
The Calder United Lions premiership team:
Spencer Allan, Brett Barker, Rhylie Botheras, Hunter Connolly, Les Cooper, Angus Forrester, George Forrester, Billy Forrester, Cody Green, James Ison, Rowan Jones, Zac Kelly, Sol Kelly, Dane McLennan, Jack Morrison, Darcy Munro, Daniel Murray, Heath Senior, Thomas Trewin, Joel Turner and Tiger Vearing.
The Community Bank Charlton and District under-17s grand final ended in a 23-point win for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers against Boort.
The Tigers led 14-1 at quarter-time and 29-19 by the main break.
As Sea Lake Nandaly scored four goals in the third quarter it kept Boort to a tally of two.
The Boort Magpies fought back to win the last term, 13-12, but it was the yellow and black which marked a 67-44 victory.
Ryder Newick led the Tigers’ attack on four goals as Angus Renney added two.
Other goalkickers for the premiers were Nate McClelland, Cruz O’Sullivan, Hugo Warne and Coby Wight.
Boort’s leading goalkicker was Brodie McPherson with four as Cooper Gooding, Seth Muller and Flynn O’Rourke were also on target.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly were Judd Durie, Ryder Newick, Cruz O’Sullivan, Nate McClelland, Hugo Warne and Cooper Symes.
Boort’s best were Cooper Gooding, Brodie McPherson, Luke Boyd, Rylan Chislett, Riley Wagner and Jake O’Flaherty.
The under-17s premieship-winning team from Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers:
Archie Alday, Brayden Allan, Riley Allan, Taj Borlase, Jack Brown, Ewan Conlan, Oscar Conlan, Henry Cox, Jacob Cox, Judd Durie, Seth Halliday, Brody Kelly, Cooper Kelly, Jack Leo, Nate McClelland, Charlie Mitchell, Callum Mott, Ryder Newick, Cruz O’Sullivan, Angus Renney, Cooper Symes, Hugo Warne, Coby Wight and Zander Wight,
Grand final day began with the Uniting Church under-14s match between St Arnaud and Boort.
The Saints raced to a 20-2 lead by quarter-time and were up 34-14 by the long break.
In the second half it was St Arnaud which did plenty of attacking.
As the Saints scored seven goals the Magpies added three behinds.
Finn Wilson kicked six goals in the 80-17 victory.
Other goalkickers for the Saints were Charlie Baldwin and Isaac Johns, two; Arley Reyne and Jack Wait.
Noah Howe and Connor McNally were on target for the Magpies.
Best for the Saints were Finn Wilson, Duncan Kirk, Sam Greenaway, Chase Hendy, Patrick Zsigmond and Jesse James.
Boort’s best were Archer Lee, Tristan Broad, Noah Howe, Luca Lanyon, Connor McNally and Seth Muller.
The under-18s premiership-winning team from St Arnaud:
Charlie Baldwin, Finn Evans, Oliver Goode, Zach Green, Sam Greenaway, Noah Hando, Chase Hendy, Jesse James, Isaac Johns, Spencer Kay, Kayden Keating, Charlie Kirk, Duncan Kirk, Lewis Lowe, Arley Reyne, Maddox Stewart, Xavier Taylor, Jack Wait, Sami Weir, Finn Wilson and Patrick Zsigmond.