Hawks are heroes again

Seniors
Monbulk 18.16.124 d Upwey-Tecoma 10.12.72.
MONBULK are the 2006 champions of both the football and netball after two heroic wins over Upwey-Tecoma on the weekend.
Monbulk celebrated historic milestones as both the netball and football sides overcame the disappointment of the Reserves loss to record resounding wins over a mighty Upwey in the two main games at Woori Yallock.
The football brought together the two most talented clubs in the YVMDFL for a titanic clash before a huge crowd at Woori Yallock in mild, windy conditions.
Upwey won the toss and elected to make first use of the four-goal breeze, but it was Monbulk who seized the initiative when ruckman Shane Vanseters adopted the role of a rover to swoop in a pack and slice through the opening major. From the bounce, Tim Wragg marked strongly in front for another before the mercurial Paul Marshall posted Upwey’s first.
The Tigers sensed disaster when Chris Hughson barged through immediately after to slot another with a creative inside-out right footer. Marshall once again steadied the Tigers after Dekker infringed and further incurred the wrath of the umpire for a 50-metre penalty, then Hedge – again from a free – launched a thunderbolt that eluded the desperate pack for the Tigers to grasp the lead.
The frenetic opening inspired skills that belied the difficult windy conditions as David Van Horn’s silky work found Hedge for his second. Upwey were wresting back control and when Hawkins intended long bomb to Hedge was carried through by the wind, the Tigers held a vital, if unconvincing, 11 point lead to quarter time.
Monbulk needed to make full use of the breeze to stamp it’s authority on the game and looked on track when Wragg goaled early from distance, but Farrelly then Keogh put Upwey further ahead with the Tigers now looking a real threat.
Monbulk fought desperately to find balance and to counter the Upwey small men who were everywhere, but Koole was also dangerous under the packs and inspired the Hawks with a magnificent major in heavy traffic. Wragg assumed the mantle of dominant forward in the game with his third, to help swing the game back the Hawks way. Koole thundered another through as Monbulk mounted a relentless attack, bringing little reward until Nicholas robbed the pack. Monbulk’s resurgence was dramatically aided by Paul Marshall’s double indiscretion that allowed full back Burke successive fifty metre penalties to goal and although Keogh pegged it back the damage was irreparable. Monbulk resumed its assault when Wragg fed Chris Hughson for the Hawks to hold a 20-point break at the midway stage. Upwey’s impeccable accuracy was keeping them in the game, but Monbulk’s inexorable dominance was an omen of what was to follow.
With the wind lessening, Upwey needed some magic and two early majors gave them a glimpse as they mounted continued assaults on goal. Hedge’s forward impact was nullified by great work from Hughson, aided by Hicken and “The Freak” Fraser. In Monbulk’s first excursion forward for some time, the dangerous Nicholas marked deep in the pocket to put the Hawks 11 points up. Both sides were showing just why they were playing off by turning on some brilliant football. Koole, Wragg and Burke were key factors as the Hawks fought back, but Monbulk continued to squander quality chances up forward, despite holding sway all over the ground. Burke was simply brilliant at full back! Comfort’s running goal demoralised Upwey who had been unable to make any use of the breeze to erode the half time lead.
Conditions were near perfect for the final quarter as the breeze dropped to a zephyr. With a huge task in front of them, Upwey threw all but the kitchen sink at the Hawks who held out as the two exchanged minor scores – then Monbulk exploded! Wragg shrugged off his third opponent to slam home three majors as Koole, Haley and Devers joined in the feast of goals that blew the Tigers off the park. The Hawks did not have one passenger in an even team effort as Monbulk completed its second back-to-back premiership by 52 points in a classic match between two magnificent sides. Shannon Koole added his own personal back-to-back by again claiming the medal for best player in the Grand Final.
Best: S. Koole, T. Wragg, D. Burke, B. Hicken, J. Fraser.
Goals: T. Wragg 6, S. Koole 3, J. Nicholas, C. Hughson 2.
Reserves
Upwey-Tecoma 18.12.120 d Monbulk 6.3.39.
TAKING on the Goliath of Reserves football was a huge task, but Monbulk attacked it hard without reward. Upwey were simply too good all over the ground.
The Hawks did not lack resolve, but the slick Upwey machine was in no mood to let their own back-to-back chances slip and they mounted a clinical dissection of the valiant Hawks to run out convincing winners.
Netball
Monbulk (25) d Upwey-Tecoma (20)
A CLIFFHANGER was expected from the competition’s two most electrifying sides in the A Grade Grand Final, and the large crowd was treated to a gripping contest.
Upwey showed why they were considered a real chance with a brilliant opening. Running hard and sharing the ball with sharp passing, the Tigers showed why they were defending champions. Monbulk found it difficult to steady as Upwey raced to solid early lead, but the Hawks fought back when Shayne Broekhof began to assert influence in the centre and Jamie Sands got on target in goal. However, the quarter belonged to the Tigers and the game was now set for a classic final.
Monbulk, inspired by the work of Broekhof and Whitworth, bounced into the second quarter with explosive effect. Scintillating play kept the ball at their end of the court where Sands and Amy Belton were shredding the defence. The Hawks quickly raced to a telling 6-goal lead at half time and looked poised to cruise to a big win.
Upwey had other ideas and in an exciting and brilliant third quarter, they reversed the trend to pressure the Hawks into error at every contest. As the tally slowly mounted, the Tigers were well in ascendancy until Mel Whitworth and Katrina Wragg took hold of the back court, allowing the Hawks to steady and hold a fragile two-goal lead coming into the last quarter.
An electric atmosphere gripped the game as the sides lifted the tempo to an incredible level. Monbulk, then Upwey took the initiative in the opening ten minutes. Monbulk now had the scent of victory and loomed as an imposing force to swarm forward and overpower the gallant Upwey girls to win by 5 goals in a worthy Grand Final display.
Mel Whitworth added to her League Best and Fairest win with another brilliant display to gain the Best Player medal.