FOOTBALL season is officially over after Hamilton Kangaroos Blue defeated Hamilton Kangaroos Orange by 13 points in the Greater South West Junior Football League (GSWJFL) Under-14 grand final on Friday night.
Orange closed the gap in the second term, reducing the deficit to just three points, as Blue took a 5.4 (34) to 5.1 (31) lead into the main break.
Blue came out after half time and tried to wrestle back the momentum, but Orange remained competitive throughout and matched the minor premiers across the field.
The margin narrowed by a further point going into the last change of ends, giving both teams plenty to play for in the final term.
It was a tense quarter of football from both teams, as the crowd got louder as time went on.
A three goals to one term saw Blue push the margin out to eventually win the season decider, 10.5 (65) to 8.4 (52).
Hamilton Kangaroos Blue captain, Frank Gill, was named best on ground, capping off a COVID-interrupted season.
Rhett Beattie coached the winning team and said it was a physical encounter and both teams played good football at different times.
“I knew it was going to be tough, the games had been tough all year and both teams trained together, so we knew the quality on the other side,” he said.
“It was a little bit unknown, once we had the lockdown and we had our separate ways, so we didn’t really know what to expect, but I knew we had trained well.”
Playing another Hamilton Kangaroos team in the decider provided an unusual spectacle and Beattie said it was a bit of a mixed feeling after the final siren.
“It might have been a bit of a strange feeling, it was pleasing in the way that we picked two even teams and we both got there to the grand final,” he said.
“The boys were pretty close with the Orange team, so there was still a healthy respect during the year, and there was a couple of really good moments after the game with some photos taken with both teams and the cup.”
Gill led the Blue team with vigour and Beattie said he had shown plenty of development during the season and was well prepared for the season decider.
“He was jumping out of his skin to play, he just loves the intensity and he was really keen and he rucked all day.
“He stepped up during the year, he grew and got fitter and his marking improved.”
Beattie also acknowledged the effort from the league and others to ensure the game could go ahead, despite the delay due to COVID restrictions.
