The first Olinda-Ferny Creek junior side to win a premiership in 49 years celebrates the achievement.
By Tania Martin
A GUTSY come from behind win over Wandin has secured Olinda-Ferny Creek Junior Football Club its first premiership in 49 years.
The Under 16 team fought hard all day, but it was their determination to take home the 2007 premiership that got them over the line. The final score was Olinda-Ferny Creek 11.11.77 to Wandin’s 6.8.44
The Young Bloods went head to head with Wandin, a team that they had fought many battles with, but this time they came away with victory.
Coach Steffan Rosier said it was great to see Olinda finally victorious over Wandin.
He said the team lost to Wandin in the preliminary finals and that this was the first time they had beaten them in a final since the Under 10s.
Rosier said the team played hard all day but were behind from the outset.
“We had to come from behind all day, but the boys just kept at it,” he said.
“The boys kept the belief that they could still win and they pulled it off.”
Rosier said it was good to see Olinda come back and beat Wandin in the grand final.
Club president Colin Peterson said this was a hard fought victory that the club had been waiting for since 1958.
He said the last time a junior team was in the grand final was in 1992 but Olinda were unable to bring home the flag that year.
“This means everything to the club’s success and is a culmination of years of hard work with the boys working really hard to get up there,” he said.
“We are so proud – we have got to the finals a number of times last few years but were unable to bring home the cup, but now we have it.”
Mr Peterson said the premiership win was not just about football but was a milestone that brings the whole community together.
He said Olinda-Ferny Creek community had been fantastic support and many travelled to Yarra Glen to watch the team clinch victory.
“We had a massive crowd supporting us,” he said.
Mr Peterson said with the crowd behind them the Young Bloods were able to pull it together and get over the line with a win.
“At half time I didn’t think they had a chance but they dug deep to bring home the cup and in the third quarter closed the gap,” he said.
Mr Peterson said everyone involved in the club from the players, supporters, and people on the gate, coaches, and team managers to the people working in the canteen all deserve to now bask in the glow of this fantastic win.
