Barwon Heads has produced the most stunning upset to thrash Torquay in the Bellarine Football League grand final today.
Beaten by 75 points in the second semi-final two weeks ago, the Seagulls produced a 130-point turnaround to win 12.12(84) to 3.11(29) at Grinter Reserve, Newcomb.
Torquay never got its running game going and was shut down at the stoppages and contests and with each goal and each passing minute, the young Seagulls started to believe more and more that it would happen.
Torquay didn’t score its second goal until the 12-minute mark of the final term through Callum Currie.
Barwon Heads hunted in numbers in what was a scrappy game.
Forward entries from both sides were haphazard and only Tony Armstrong and Sammy Baker looked assured by foot for the majority of the first three quarters.
Baker kicked the first goal of the game and would eventually be named best afield. The little dynamo was in everything.
Star forward Nathan Brown was well held, but unselfishly gave up an opportunity to kick the final goal of the game when he handballed to Ollie Wiltshire in the square.
Matt Dyer was superb in the ruck against Torquay behemoth Mac Burns.
Armstrong’s delivery out of defence was superb, Brock Close took some clutch marks and Kyle Polley was magnificent in defence.
Lachie Wilson put the game beyond doubt early in the final term with two measured goals and from then it was party time as the unthinkable was about to happen.
The win means Barwon Heads has won back to back premierships by winning in 2019 and now 2022. The 2020 and 2021 seasons were abandoned although Torquay was a runaway unbeaten favourite last year before the season was called off with three weeks to go.
