Strathmerton saved its best for last, getting payback on Tungamah when it mattered most, toppling the Bears by 27 points to claim the Picola District Football League under-17 premiership at Memorial Park, Deniliquin.
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The Bulldogs had fallen short against Tungamah twice during the season, including a heartbreaking three-point qualifying final loss three weeks ago, but on grand final day they kicked straighter, defended harder and embraced a chaotic, forward-surging style that delivered a 13.7 (85) to 9.4 (58) victory.
Coach Shannon Edgar said the turnaround was built on belief and hard work.
“The last one we played against them was a three-point loss, but we let them have a good start on us,” he said.
“We knew that we could be there at our best. We’ve done a lot of hard work fitness-wise and we sorted that out after the two finals. We won those and gave us the opportunity to meet Tungamah again today.”
Strathmerton set the tone from the opening bounce, slotting four goals in the first quarter to open a 12-point lead.
Tungamah’s responses came through set shots, its ball movement neat, but often stalling once inside 50.
The Bulldogs, by contrast, thrived on chaos, surging the ball forward by any means and capitalising on their ground-level pressure.
That pattern held through the middle stages.
Tungamah’s Luke O’Brien worked tirelessly to drag his side forward, while co-captain Brae Grant was brave and composed wherever he went.
Jake Walker and co-captain Archie Doyle combined for clever moments up front, but every time the Bears threatened, Strathmerton had an answer.
Just before half-time, Cooper Woodland soared for a pack mark and converted, stretching the margin to 17 points at the main break.
Accuracy in front of goal was critical.
While Tungamah missed opportunities, Strathmerton was ruthless.
At one point the Bulldogs sat at 11.2 and Edgar admitted it was a decisive factor.
“We certainly kicked straight,” he said with a smirk.
“It probably hurt us in the final against Tungamah that we weren’t kicking so straight, but yes, we certainly kicked straight. And as we know, yeah, if you kick goals and straight goals, well you’re halfway home.”
The Bulldogs’ intent at stoppages and leg speed across the big Deniliquin ground also told.
“With a bigger ground like that, I thought we may have had that leg speed,” Edgar said.
“So it worked out that way and we just had a little bit more leg speed getting the ball and then getting it forward.”
Tungamah hung in there.
Doyle snapped an early goal in the final term and Walker kept competing, but Strathmerton steadied.
Woodland was everywhere, clunking marks and creating chances, while Ethan Bovalina and Jayden Edgar provided presence in attack.
By the final siren the Bulldogs had opened a comfortable gap, sealing premiership glory.
Woodland’s efforts earned him best-on-ground honours, a remarkable feat given it is his first season of football since primary school.
“This is his first year playing footy since he was eight or nine,” Edgar said.
“This is his third game back from six weeks off on a holiday, he’s just athletic, doesn’t like to lose, and he’s just got good skills. I hope he sticks at it, because I’d love to mould him into a senior footballer. We may have not got to where we are without him.”
Edgar also praised the impact of his son Jayden.
“He’s our leading goal-kicker, he’s so important to the team, knowing they’ve got a target to hit. He’s not going to get outmarked. If he doesn’t mark it, it’s going to ground, and then we go from there.”
Beaten twice by Tungamah and made to fight its way through finals, Strathmerton found the perfect moment for revenge.
On the biggest stage, the junior Bulldogs proved themselves the best side of all.