After conceding the first goal of the game, the Roosters kicked the next six of the first quarter to develop a lead that would only grow larger as the day wore on as they claimed the premiership cup with an 18.12 (120) to 7.5 (47) victory.
Montmorency, who finished atop the ladder at the end of the home and away season and had a week’s rest leading into the game, had no answers to the onslaught.
West Preston-Lakeside finished the season in fourth place and the extra finals it played seemed to have held it in good stead as it dominated in the opening quarter.
While the Roosters had contributors all over the ground the standout was 16-year-old Garrett McDonagh who was awarded the best on ground medal. His raking left foot was instrumental in setting up West Preston-Lakeside’s forward attacks, especially in the first quarter when then game was still in dispute.
He was joined by Andrew Close whose work on the inside of contests was important to get it out to the likes of McDonagh. There was also Benjamin Peters who was the most successful forward on the ground with five goals. He was able to regularly slip his opponent and was rewarded by his teammates for his work.
It can be hard to find positives in a losing Grand Final side but Jake Whiting was clearly Montmorency’s best player. He fought hard in the midfield through all four quarters, often with little help, and even managed to sneak forward for a goal.
Captain Kiel Vann’s efforts were also commendable. He was constantly trying to pull the Magpies back into the contest but in the end it wasn’t to be.
The Magpies opened the scoring in the Grand Final with an impressive end-to-end chain of play that ended up in the hands of Matthew Miller.
West Preston-Lakeside’s response was immediate as Peters added his first and then the floodgates opened. The Roosters moved the ball at will and scored the remaining five goals of the quarter with relative ease.
The second quarter read much like the first. Montmorency’s Scott Pepyat kicked the opening goal as the Magpies attempted to mount a comeback, but that was to be their final major for the opening half.
The rest of the quarter belonged to the Roosters as they kicked four more goals, including two to Peters.
Their forward pressure was so relentless that Montmorency struggled to make it past the half way mark of the ground, let alone inside its forward 50m.
With West Preston-Lakeside ahead by eight goals at the half a comeback was unlikely, but after Peters added his fifth goal to open the quarter it became nigh impossible.
Despite the hopelessness of its situation, Montmorency began to fight back. It started to win the stoppages and trap the ball in its own half which now had a forward line structure.
This yielded three goals for the Magpies and left them trailing by six goals with one quarter to play.
To remain a chance the Magpies had to kick the first goal of the fourth term, which they were able to do. Another goal followed and closed the gap to 24 points. However, it took 10 minutes of play to secure these two goals and it seemed that time would prevent the Magpies in their comeback attempt.
As it were, time did not prove to be an issue.
Soon after Montmorency’s second goal, West Preston-Lakeside replied through Brad Sanderson which stopped Monty’s run and broke its spirit.
From there the floodgates opened again and the Roosters finished the game with five straight goals, including three to Naci Eshel.
As each goal went through the celebrations grew louder as the players recognised they were about to become the 2012 premiers.
In claiming the victory, they became the first of two Division 1 sides to win a premiership from fourth-place, with Northcote Park repeating the Roosters’ feat in the senior match later in the afternoon.
Montmorency 1.0, 2.1, 5.3, 7.5 (47)
West Preston-Lakeside 6.3, 10.5, 11.8, 18.12 (120)
Montmorency
Goal Kickers: M. Miller 2, A. Swindon, D. Trajanovski, S. Pepyat, J. Whitling, D. Hussey
Best Players: J. Whitling, K. Vann, M. Nunan, S. Brown, G. McCracken, S. Pepyat
West Preston-Lakeside
Goal Kickers: B. Peters 5, N. Eshel 4, K. Heaney 2, C. Belbasis , M. Tobin, J. Crapper, J. Rizzolio, M. Whittaker, N. McDonagh, B. Sanderson
Best Players: G. McDonagh, A. Close, B. Peters, M. Tobin, K. Heaney, M. Whittaker
