MARONG is celebrating a fourth Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy premiership in a row after Saturday’s 32-point victory against Bridgewater.
The Panthers and Mean Machine clashed at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
A big day for Marong involved all three footy teams in action.
By 5pm the Marong fans were again saying “two out of three ain’t bad” after wins by the senior and reserves teams.
In the senior clash the Kain Robins and Paul Thomson-coached Marong charged to a 37-6 lead in the first quarter before Bridgewater hit back with consecutive goals.
A 21-point buffer for the Panthers at the start of the second became 34 by the 7 ½ minute mark after back-to-back goals.
It was the Lachie Sharp-coached Mean Machine which upped its intensity at the contest.
Bridgewater did plenty of attacking and had nine scoring shots in a row.
A tally of 2.7 meant Marong led 55-37 nearing half-time.
Another goal for the Panthers just before the siren put the reigning premier up 61-37 at the long break.
Bridgewater’s hopes lifted with a hat-trick of unanswered goals to be within nine points at the 7 ½ minute mark of the third quarter.
A major settled Marong’s nerves, but Bridgewater quickly replied.
The quarter closed out with a goal for Marong, one to Bridgewater, and then another to Marong.
The Panthers led 83-69 at three quarter-time.
Marong scored the opening two goals of the final term.
The Mean Machine goaled, but three goals in a row gave Marong an unassailable lead of 39 points.
Bridgewater scored the final goal of the contest as Marong ran out 116-84 victors.
A sign of Marong’s strength was its spread of goalkickers.
The Panthers’ attack was led by captain Nathan Devanny, Shaun Knott, Kain Robins and Richard Tibbett on two goals each.
Marong also had Jonty Davis, Jimmy Gadsden, Shannon Geary, Corey Gregg, Lachlan Lee, Jack and Noah McCaig, and Ryley Taylor slot a goal each.
The league’s century goalkicker and Frank Harding medallist as league fairest and best, Lachie Sharp capped a fine grand final with five goals as Bridgewater team-mate Oscar McKinley added four.
Other goalkickers for the Mean Machine were Harry Conway, Harry McKinley and Josh Roberts.
The AFL Victoria Country Medal was awarded to Marong on-baller Jimmy Gadsden.
Best for the Panthers were Jimmy Gadsden, Jonty Davis, Shannon Geary, Jack McCaig, Nathan Devanny and Richard Tibbett.
Bridgewater’s best were Joseph Mayes, Lachie Sharp, Oscar McKinley, Alex Powell, Jack Milligan and Jacob Ellings.
The premiership-winning team from Marong:
Michael Bradbury, Todd Davies, Jonty Davis, Nathan Devanny, Jacob Ede, Lachlan Frankel, Jimmy Gadsden, Shannon Geary, Ben Gregg, Corey Gregg, Jai Gretgrix, Brodie Hartland, David Johnstone, Shaun Knott, Lachlan Lee, Jack McCaig, Noah McCaig, Kain Robins, Ryley Taylor, Richard Tibbett, Nathan Walsh, Matt Willox.
Coaches: Kain Robins, playing, and Paul Thomson, non-playing.
In the reserves grand final, Marong unleashed a five-goal blitz in the final term to complete a 70-36 win against Bridgewater.
The Panthers led 19-8 at quarter-time and 32-16 by the main break.
Bridgewater fought back brilliantly in the third quarter.
As the Mean Machine scored 3.1 it kept Marong to a tally of 1.1.
The final quarter began with Marong in front, 39-35.
Inspired by the play of Kyle Manley, Patrick Gretgrix and Declan Highgate it was Marong which broke clear.
The Panthers piled on five unanswered goals to mark a 34-point victory.
Goalkickers for Marong were Kyle Manley on four, Cooper Hale with two, and Seb De Napoli, Tom Grant, Lochie Hale, Declan Highgate and Max Lowery on one each.
Bridgewater’s attack was led by Jeremy Campbell and Ollie Muggleton with two each as Declan Maher was also on target.
The AFL Victoria Country Medal for best-on-ground was awarded to Marong’s Kyle Manley.
Best for Marong included Harry Baker, Cooper and Lochie Hale.
Bridgewater’s best were Jay Bowen, Oliver Watt, Jake Higgins, Mychael Baker, Toby Naughton and Declan Maher.
The premiership-winning team from Marong:
Harry Baker, David Blume, Aaron Collins, Seb De Napoli, Grant Dowler, Matthew Grant, Tom Grant, Pat Gretgrix, Reece Gretgrix, Cooper Hale, Lochie Hale, Declan Highgate, Zac Justice, Max Lowery, Kyle Manley, Brad Matthews, Gus Reade, Billy Stewart, Fraser Stewart, Kepler Thomson, James Toomey, Zack Turnbull.
Grand final day kicked off with the under-18s clash between Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Marong.
There were 169 points scored in a top contest between the Eagles and Panthers.
The Maiden Gully YCW line-up led 15-13 at quarter-time and then scored six goals in the second to lead 56-27 at half-time.
The Eagles then won the third quarter, 25-13.
Lincoln Hancock went on to kick a match-high six goals as the Eagles soared to a 122-47 victory.
Maiden Gully YCW had Liam Budge, Harry Carter, Lewis Pigdon and Oliver Taylor kick two goals each.
Other goalkickers for the premiers were Ollie Bowman, Mitchell Lines, Steven Neervoort and Daniel Vallance.
Marong’s attack was led by Caleb Dudderidge on two as Riley Doorty, Jake Gribble, Max O’Donnell, Deqlan Radford and Ray McNamara added one each.
The AFL Victoria Country Medal was awarded to Zac Turner from Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Best for the Eagles were Zac Turner, Tahlan Brook, Lincoln Hancock, Lewis Pigdon, Oliver Taylor and Mitchell Lines.
Marong’s best were Max O’Donnell, Wilhelm Thomson, Lachie Thomas, Harry Roberts, Rhys Hayden and Caleb Dudderidge.
The premiership-winning team from Maiden Gully YCW Eagles:
Jett Beagley, Ollie Bowman, David Bown, Liam Budge, Tahlan Brook, Harry Carter, Xavier Cassells, Jackson Douglas, Declan Downing, Hayden Elgar, Noah Hadden, Lincoln Hancock, Harry Healey, Jordan Hutton, Jack Ladner, Mitch Lines, Steven Neervoort, Lewis Pigdon, Oliver Taylor, Zac Turner, Daniel Vallance, and Declan Wharton.