By Armin Richter
SENIORS
The Division 1 Grand Final between Healesville and Warburton-Millgrove took place on Saturday at Woori Yallock. With a cold front passing through there were intermittent showers and occasional hail as a large crowd assembled. The ground was firm but slippery with the wind favouring the Warburton Highway end.
These two clubs had never met in a Grand Final since the Warburton-Millgrove club was formed in 1967 through the merger of the Warburton Magpies (Black and White) and Millgrove (Blue and White), hence the club colours of black, white and blue. Prior to 1967 there had been numerous Grand Finals between Millgrove, Healesville and Warburton though. The first occasion was in 1914, when Millgrove defeated Healesville, through to 1962 where Healesville defeated Warburton. Healesville’s last premiership had been Division 1 (now Premier Division) in 2016 while Warburton-Millgrove had most recently won Division 2 (now Division 1) in 2006. Both of these proud clubs were looking to win and return to the top flight where they had not competed since before Covid.
Healesville went into the match as favourites, having defeated the Burras three times previously this season, however the margin in the Qualifying Final three weeks ago had been just 5 points. The Bloods had also come to notice this year after recruiting ex-AFL players Levi Greenwood (North Melbourne and Collingwood) and Aaron Edwards (West Coast, North Melbourne and Richmond) which had materially bolstered their side, having finished third last year.
Healesville had first use of the breeze and kicked the only two goals of the opening quarter. It was a tight arm wrestle in the second term as both sides were only able to add one goal each. The Bloods were doing most of the attacking in the third quarter but could register just one goal for their efforts as the Warburton backs held strong in a low scoring affair. For the final quarter the wind died down and the sun came out and with this Healesville put on a clinic, kicking 5.4 to 0.3, and running out convincing winners by 52 points.
Healesville 9.9.63 defeated Warburton-Millgrove 1.5.11
Best: Healesville – Levi Greenwood, Jason Savage, Liam Daly, Aaron Edwards, Jesse Bates, Nick Mende
Warburton-Millgrove – Tyson Henry, Tom Barr, Jack Lee, Thomas Baker, Thomas Marr, Ben Pretty
Goals: Healesville – Aaron Edwards 3, Jason Savage 2, Charlie Warren 1, Max Donegan 1, Dale Senior 1, Luke Potts 1
Warburton-Millgrove – Thomas Marr
RESERVES
Healesville weren’t to have it all their own way for the day as their Reserves went down to a gutsy Belgrave contingent. Belgrave had lost just once during the home and away season, which was to Healesville, but were then beaten again by the Bloods in the 2nd Semi Final a fortnight ago. The Magpies recovered to get to the big one and handled the greasy conditions better to win the Reserves premiership by 17 points.
Belgrave 5.10.40 def Healesville 3.5.23
Best: Belgrave – Patrick Beggs, Matthew Crichton, Robbie Bertalli, Daniel Noy, Caiden Bolger, Mark Francis
Healesville – Ricky Hay, Casey Young, Max Renouf, Tom Campbell, Daniel Ebbels, Michael Evans
Goals: Belgrave – Matthew Crichton 2, Daniel Noy 1, Harley McDermott 1, Alex Harvey 1
Healesville – Rick Hay 2, Kobe Brown 1
UNDER 18s
The Under 18s Grand Final pitted the top two sides all year against each other. Most of the play was at the end favoured by the wind and it would be the Rovers who would triumph by 13 points.
Mt. Evelyn 7.6.48 def Woori Yallock 5.5.35
Best: Mt. Evelyn – not named
Woori Yallock – Archie Spencer, Mason O’Neill, Harvey Smith, Zeke Dewhurst-Sibley, Hamish Murphy, Hunter Ryan
Goals: Mt. Evelyn – Riley Jones 2, Asher Inaps 1, Brodie Hood 1, Blake Cherry 1, Jace Hamilton 1, Jasper Barry 1
Woori Yallock – Hunter Ryan 1, Harvey Smith 1, Ronan Taylor 1, Mason O’Neill 1, Jack Freedman 1
NETBALL
Seville has a very strong netball program and made the Grand Finals in each of the Senior grades. The A Grade clash was an instant classic as the match went into overtime to decide a victor. Warburton-Millgrove prevailed by a solitary goal to snatch the premiership. Seville did however collect the other three flags.
Division 1 Netball Grand Final results
A Grade – Warburton-Millgrove 43 def Seville 42
B Grade – Seville 56 def Belgrave 34
C Grade – Seville 36 def Yarra Glen 22
D Grade – Seville 25 def Yarra Glen 21
PREMIER DIVISION
FOOTBALL
It was Preliminary Final weekend at Officer on Sunday in the top Division. Fierce local rivals Woori Yallock and Wandin were to battle it out in the Seniors for the right to play Narre Warren in the Grand Final. While Narre Warren are newcomers to the Outer East, having joined in 2019, Woori Yallock and Wandin have been combatants since first meeting in July 1892, 132 years ago, in a match that was covered in the Lilydale Express. The two teams have been League powers for the past two decades, with both sides winning 5 premierships since 2001. Wandin are the reigning premiers while the Tigers haven’t claimed a flag for a decade since their 2012-14 three-peat, but have made the finals every year and were runners up in 2017, 2018 and 2022.
A cold wind blew at Officer but otherwise conditions were good. The Bulldogs set the pace early, getting out to a 21 point lead by quarter time and extending that to 40 points by the long break. In the second half Woori Yallock kept pace but were unable to make any inroads on the scoreboard as Wandin cruised to a 45 point victory. Aaron Mullett and Brodie Atkins kicked 3 goals each for the Bulldogs. This now sets up a rematch of last years’ Grand Final – Narre Warren v Wandin.
It will also be a rematch in the Reserves where Narre Warren will take on Upwey-Tecoma after overcoming Wandin. The Under 19s will be an all South East clubs affair as neighbours Pakenham and Officer will face off in the final
Seniors – Wandin 15.8.98 def Woori Yallock 8.5.53
Reserves – Narre Warren 9.7.61 def Wandin 7.5.47
Under 19s – Officer 7.6.48 def Narre Warren 6.8.44
NETBALL
The netball will have a strong South East flavour in the Grand Finals next week, with only Mt. Evelyn (A Grade) and Wandin (C Grade) representing the Yarra Valley district out of the 8 teams in the open age Grand Finals. Wandin (Under 17s) and Monbulk (Under 15s) will also appear in two of the Junior Grand Finals to be played at Officer.
Premier Division Preliminary Final results
A GRADE – Narre Warren 58 def Wandin 40
B GRADE – ROC 68 def Wandin 44
C GRADE – Wandin 44 def Pakenham 37
D GRADE – ROC 25 def Pakenham 17
17&Under Mixed – Wandin 37 def Pakenham 24
15&Under – ROC 45 def Narre Warren 10
