Anglesea came from 5th on the ladder to topple minor premiers Geelong Amateur to win its first Bellarine Football League flag in 26 years at Newcomb’s Grinter Reserve on Saturday.
In a game that lived up to the hype, Max Virgona ran into an open goal and slotted through the match winner to put the Seas 13 points at the 29-minute mark. Final scores Anglesea 14.10(94) to Geelong Amateur 12.9(81).
Both star forwards were kept quiet with the Roos’ Ayden Gras and Ammos’ Mitch Day booting a goal each.
Instead it was Will Batson and Josh Finch Medallist Harrison Ling that hit the scoreboard for Anglesea with three majors each.
Anglesea wasn’t even certain of even playing finals until a behind by Batson in the final round earned the club a draw against Queenscliff and 5th spot on the ladder.
Finals wins against Drysdale, Queenscliff, Torquay and finally Geelong Amateur meant the Roos did it the hard way, which made it all the more special.
“Special community, special club,” coach Jordan Keras said after the game.
“So proud of you, I honestly don’t tell you enough, I love you boys and we’ve got something special together forever now so we’ll just enjoy it tonight. I’m so proud of you boys.”
Anglesea started the game well, leading by 17 points at quarter time and by the same margin at the long break.
But Ammos were not done. A six goal to two third term turned the game around and suddenly they led by a goal with a quarter to go.
Co-coach Sam Lloyd booted two majors in the third including one to put Ammos in front at the 27-minute mark.
Dan Weigl was a constant aerial threat in defence as Ammos gained the ascendancy.
Anglesea hit back the lead early in the last as Batson booted the first of his two goals for the quarter and he would add another in the 19th minute for a four-point lead.
Declan Everett made it 10 points the difference a minute later, but Archer Hanegraaf goaled and reduced the margin to four, setting up an epic finish.
Three consecutive behinds pushed the margin out to seven points before Virgona’s goal sealed the win right in front of a huge pocket of Seas supporters.
GRAND FINALS
Saturday September 13, Grinter Reserve, Newcomb
Seniors
Anglesea 5.2(32), 8.4(52), 10.6(66), 14.10(94)
Geelong Amateur 2.3(15), 5.5(35), 11.6(72), 12.9(81)
GOALS: Anglesea – Harrison Ling 3, Will Batson 3, Declan Everett, Dale Kerr, Josh King, Max Virgona, Jack Walters, Noah Collins, Ayden Gras, Simon Umbers. Geelong Amateur – Sam Lloyd 3, Archer Hanegraaf, Joe Maishman, Lachlan Rielly, Charley Green, Luke Hillier, Tom Gribble, Mitch Day, Blake Sutterby, Harry Kershaw.
BEST: Anglesea – Harrison Ling, Camdyn Hutchinson, Will Batson, Jordan Keras, Tevan Nofi, Sam Leeds. Geelong Amateur – Daniel Weigl, Joe Maishman, Riley Ferguson, Daniel Grose, Archer Hanegraaf, Hamish Shepheard.
Reserves
Geelong Amateur 1.2(8), 2.6(18), 5.9(39), 6.12(48)
Torquay 3.0(18), 5.2(32), 5.2(32), 6.3(39)
GOALS: Geelong Amateur – Tom Gorell 2, Riley Mattner 2, Cody Diana, Darby Edwards. Torquay – Sam Hooper 2, Lucas Renfrey, Harrison Goode, James Ward.
BEST: Geelong Amateur – Cody Diana, Tom Gorell, Nick Maishman, Jacob Edwards, Jack Pickering, Riley Mattner. Torquay – Vivian McCarthy, Tyler Emmerson, Joe Darby, Harrison Goode, Brendan Carlyon, Lucas Renfrey.
Under 18 Division 2
Barwon Heads 2.2(14), 5.4(34), 9.5(59), 12.8(80)
Colac 0.2(2), 1.3(9), 2.3(15), 4.4(28)
GOALS: Barwon Heads – Taiyo Mcencroe 5, Cash Boumpas 2, Campbell Shier 2, Joel Bartley, Tyler Bishop, Griffin Burgess. Colac – Gus Uytdehaag, Jed Hay, Alex Makuey, Kai Fraser.
BEST: Barwon Heads – Taiyo Mcencroe, Ollie Cincotta, Nick Worsley, Joel Bartley, Kaleb Berg, Conor Duffy. Colac – Xavier Cooknell, Gus Uytdehaag, Kade Johnson, Archie Millar, Charlie Seuren, Aubrey Melville.
