The last wrap for the year is without doubt the biggest wrap for the year. For those of you living under a rock, the reserves have gone #Back2Back and won their second Essendon District Football League flag in succession.

Coming into the game, the contests with Coburg Districts had been close all season long. During the first meeting between the two clubs back in April at Cole Reserve, Districts just got over the line by 4 points due to our poor kicking for goal in the final term. The next meeting at Lakeside saw us come from behind with the breeze in the final term to win by 11 points. The first final at Coburg City Oval saw us holding a comfortable 5 goal half time lead before we allowed the Lions back into the game but we eventually triumphed by 10 points.

It’s fair to say the Grand Final followed that script. Chadie got the first goal of the game after 8 minutes – the two teams sizing each other up early on. Billy then added a second to put us 14 points up mid way through the first. Coburg hit back with two quick goals in as many minutes and got it back to a 2 point margin. Youi M slotted his first major for the day just before the quarter time siren and we held an 8 point lead at the first change – 3.4-22 to 2.2-14

In the second quarter we came out breathing fire and looked to have blown the Lions off the park. Goals to Youi (his second at the 6 minute mark), Billy with his second of the day (17 minute mark), Chadie with his second (18 minute mark) and Jay (20 minute mark) saw us holding a comfortable 35 point lead just before half time before Coburg got a late goal to drag it back to 28 points at half time. 7.7-49 to 3.3-21

As happened in the previous final against Districts, they came out fired up. Billy kicked the first of the quarter and his third of the game at the 5 minute mark to put us up by 36 points. Then Coburg unleashed with a string of 4 goals coming at the 14 minute mark (2 goals), 16 minutes and then one on the siren to cut out lead to just 11 points. 8.10-58 to 7.5-47

The final term was full of drama that did not end until the final siren sounded. Things got off to the worst possible start as Coburg kicked the first goal at the 5 minute mark to reduce the margin to 5 points. They then scored again after 8 minutes to lead by 1. When they kicked the next goal to go 7 points up with 15 minutes left it looked like it was all over. They had kicked 8 goals without reply and we looked done. We had players cramping up or injured and just did not seem to have the run left to peg them back – Enter Azza. the big man completely dominated the rest of the term and started winning the ball out of the centre for us and controlling the ruck. A goal to Jay Jay at the 12 minute mark got us back to within a point before a behind to Billy saw us draw level. Then it was time for Moud to step up to live up to his name #MoudyBetts and put us in front! Coburg kept attacking but poor kicking for goal cost them as they could only muster up 3 behinds from set shots that they might otherwise have kicked. The drama went right to the siren as Coburg kicked the ball out of the full about 65 metres from their goal but the umpire saw a push on one of their players and paid a free kick…..right as the siren sounded. With the crowd rushing onto the ground thinking it was all over, there was pandemonium at Windy Hill akin to the Escort Cup Grand Final between North and Collingwood many moons ago. After clearing the ground the Districts player gave his kick all it had but fell short which confirmed that we were premiers again!

Aaron was named best on ground for his heroics while Tilly dominated the first half before getting a corkie which limited his influence after the break. Chad was brilliant in the centre while Timmy gave us plenty of dash off half back. Dogga and Lamanna Banana were also named in the best after both had great games.

Billy led the goal scorers as he’s done all year, kicking 3, while Jay, Chad and Youi kicked 2 each before Moudy kicked the sealer

Firstly, congratulation to Phil and his coaching staff who have done a fantastic job this season. Finishing on top of the ladder and taking out the flag…there’s not not better than that. To the 22 who took the field on Saturday and to all the other players who have played a part in the ressies side this year – Congratulations to you all. You deserve everything that has come your way. Thank you also to the support staff (runners, water boys and the medics/physios) to all of the parents and helpers around the club who make this all happen. Finally, thank you to the Roxburgh Park faithful who show up week in/week out and support this great club. We are all one big family and our fans are what we are here for.

Next year promises to be a HUGE one for the club. New senior coach Micheal Farrelly has come on board, we expect to announce some new signings and re-signings shortly, we will have BRAND NEW, state of the art club rooms early next season and the bottom oval lights will be ready to fire up fpr pre-season. Keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels and don’t forget to book now for the Grand Final Dinner at the Roxburgh Park Hotel and to book for the Senior Presentation which will be held at The Meadows Dogs.

See you all in 2018 when the wrap returns

#freshstart #fazgeneration #onemagpie 3Peat #EDFL