Olinda Ferny Creek’s Under 18s celebrate back to back premierships. 53722
By Casey Neill
OLINDA Ferny Creek’s Under 18s secured back-to-back flags and Monbulk’s Reserves side broke a premiership drought to give their retiring coach a fairytale swan song in Sunday’s Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League Division 1 finals.
Olinda Ferny Creek defeated Healesville 80 points to 68.
Their incredibly accurate kicking on goal (13.2) secured the victory.
Blake Walter was the standout with seven goals straight. The club’s vice-president Rick Wall said the victory marked Olinda Ferny Creek’s first Division 1 flag win.
“It was historic,” he said.
“We’re a small community and to beat Healesville was a major accomplishment for us.”
The Under 18s side won last year’s Division 2 title and has two Under 16s flags to its name.
“They’re just such an extraordinarily talented group,” Mr Wall said.
The club hopes to keep the team together to pursue seniors success next year.
A new addition to the side, Luke Hill, was best on ground, booting a 55-metre goal in the final term to seal the win with Healesville biting at their heels.
Warburton Millgrove gave Monbulk a scare in the final term of the Reserves grand final, but the Hawks held on to win 76 points to 59.
The victory was a fairytale send-off for player-coach Guy Calcagno, and a huge relief after three frustrating grand final losses for the side in the past four years.
“It was relief and jubilation at the same time,” Mr Calcagno said.
“The look on their faces was unbelievable, priceless.”
“I couldn’t describe it actually, I’m lost for words.”
The win was also Monbulk’s first Division 1 Reserves premiership since 1982.
It was an anxious match for Mr Calcagno.
“We started off really well but they came back in the third quarter,” he said.
“We managed to fight back to hang on to win.”
“I’m really proud of the boys.”
Mr Calcagno said the side had fantastic support from the crowd.
“The Monbulk community is really good. They understand the history,” he said. “They helped us tremendously.”
