GREENSBOROUGH secured the 2014 NFL Division 1 premiership in emphatic style with a 41-point victory over Heidelberg at Preston City Oval.
The Boro’s 25-year wait between Division 1 flags ended after an outstanding Grand Final performance saw them lead at every change, finishing with a 13.14 (92) to 6.15 (51) victory.
The win was the club’s 18th senior premiership and 17th in Division 1. It helped the Boro move to within one flag of league record-holder and opponent, Heidelberg.
For the Tigers, the result was a fourth Grand Final defeat in five years, following losses in consecutive deciders between 2010 to 2012.
Best on ground honours went to Greensborough ruckman Michael Hooper who topped off a stellar season and proved to be a fantastic recruit for the club.
Hooper may be able to secure a treble of medals on Wednesday night, where he will start as one of the favourites for the NFL Best and Fairest award – the Frank Rosbrook Medal.
Greensborough’s first half was something to marvel. It was able to outscore Heidelberg in the first quarter when kicking into the wind and then opened up a five-goal lead at half time to be in clear control of the game.
The Boro certainly gained a huge psychological advantage when they led at quarter time. While their lead was just two points, it could well have been the quarter that won them the premiership.
Heidelberg would have been disappointed with its first quarter efforts. The Tigers wasted numerous chances on goal with inaccurate kicking and poor decision making.
The Tigers controlled the play in the first 15 minutes of the game with the Boro barely able to manage a forward 50 entry. But they were wasteful in front of goal, kicking 1.4 along with numerous shots out on the full.
In the quarters when Heidelberg was kicking with the wind to the market end of the ground, it managed just 4.11. Its inaccuracy in front of goal never gave it a chance to gather momentum at any stage in the game.
A seven-goal to one run by Greensborough from late in the first quarter to the end of the second quarter saw it go from trailing by 11 points to leading by 31 at half time.
Kicking with the wind in the final quarter, Greensborough could have been excused for bombing the ball long and trying to save the game. Instead it continued to attack with precision passing through the middle of the ground.
Goals to Jack Johnson and Rhys Boyden early in the last extended the lead out to 40 points, signalling the start of party time for the Boro. They were then able to soak up the memorable Grand Final victory in the final moments.
Along with Hooper, Jason Rogers, Luke Stanton, Daniel McLinden and Rhys Boyden were among a host of Boro players in the best.
The Greensborough backline of McLinden, Matthew Hyde, Nick Riddle, Josh Griffiths, Liam Emery, Brent Ryan and Drew Wilson have earned praise all year as being arguably the best defensive unit in the competition.
They may have saved their best performance for the last game of the year, with each dominant in their Grand Final role. No Heidelberg player kicked multiple goals in the premiership decider and at no stage did the Tigers kick consecutive goals.
The inclusion of co-captain Tim Bongetti strengthened an already potent Boro forward line. Bongetti was a dominant figure in the attacking half and took many towering marks.
Along with key forwards Boyden, Luke Stanton and Andrew Stellas, the Boro forward line was operating as a well-oiled machine when they needed it most – kicking the highest score against Heidelberg for the season.
Add in small forwards Rogers and Josh Grubb, along with utilities Jack Johnson and Tristan Stead, and the Boro used every available asset in the forward half to stretch the Heidelberg defence – who went into the game with the lowest accumulative points against for the season.
The Boro midfield continued where they left off from last week with slick skills, efficient ball movement and a stronger ability to spread across the ground than their opponents.
Heidelberg players Jarrod Hodgkin, Paul Bower, Aaron Crispe and captain Jason Kennedy were among the Tigers better players as they have done so all season.
With both sides boasting young lists, the Boro and Tigers are well positioned to contest for premierships over the next few years as one of the league’s oldest rivalry reignites again.
Final score: Heidelberg 6.15 (51) def by Greensborough 13.14 (92)
