The Victorian Amateur Football Association climbed off the canvass to secure a thrilling five-point victory over the Northern Football League and retain the No.1 Metro Championships ranking.
After trailing for the opening 74 minutes of the 80-minute encounter, the VAFA hit the front with six minutes remaining and held on for a thrilling 7.7 (49) to 5.14 (44) win.
Three final term VAFA goals was enough as the NFL finished the second half goalless with just seven behinds.
While guilty of their own missed shots on goal, majors to Jack Bull (Old Scotch), Bede Mahon (Uni Blacks) and Adam Pitt (Uni Blacks) in an enthralling final 20 minutes left the VAFA as the undisputed champions of suburban footy.
Bull was in everything for his side, kicking two goals and playing a crucial role through the middle of the ground.
But it was Old Trinity’s Harry Tinney that was the standout, named the VAFA’s best after keeping the dangerous Shane Harvey (North Heidelberg) to just one goal.
Old Collegians’ Harry Croft impressed across half forward, while Brendan Iezzi (Old Trinity) showed his class with several crucial touches.
The NFL threw everything at their opponents in a match of finals-like intensity but was ultimately left to rue wasted opportunities.
Greensborough’s Nick Riddle and Macleod’s Brad Leggett were superb down back for the NFL with Leggett winning his dual with VAFA captain Matt Handley.
NFL skipper Jason Kennedy (Heidelberg) was also faultless at the helm; putting his body on the line in several bone jarring contests and mopping up with composure and class off half back.
But for all of the NFL’s hard work, which also included starring roles from Jesse Donaldson (Montmorency) and Matthew Dennis (Bundoora), coach Jason Heatley will be haunted by the second half failure to hit the scoreboard.
The missed opportunities were in stark contrast to the opening term when the NFL could do no wrong.
Big-man Patrick Fitzgerald (Montmorency) ignited his team with a huge pack mark and goal inside the first 30 seconds.
His club teammate Ben Fennell followed up shortly after with an intercept mark that had the NFL well and truly on top.
With the ball anchored in their defensive 50, the VAFA’s only major of the opening term came through the ever reliable Adam Bentick (St Bernards).
Trailing by 20 points at the first break, the Ammos needed a lift and found it in the form of captain Handley, who turned his opponent inside out before snapping truly early in the second term.
Bull was trying to lift his side in the clinches and landed a crucial blow when he goaled on the run to cut the margin to 11 points at the main break.
If the first half was an arm wrestle then the third term became trench warfare as the teams traded blows between the arks, unable to snare the decisive goal.
In 20 minutes of frenetic footy, both sides wasted opportunities, including a poster apiece, to finish the term still separated by a little more than two goals.
While their respective coaches called for composure under pressure at the last change it was the VAFA that was able to find crucial goals in the final term to prevail in a game befitting of the 1v2 rankings.
The win sees a rematch of last year’s title game with the Eastern Football League triumphing over the Western Region FL and booking a date with the VAFA in 2016.
The Northern Football League slipped to third on the rankings and will face the fourth-ranked Essendon District Football League next year.
VAFA
Goal Kickers: J. Bull 2, B. Mahon, A. Pitt, M. Handley, H. Croft, A. Bentick
Best Players: H. Tinney, B. Iezzi, J. Bull, T. Sullivan, A. Pitt, W. Tardif
NFL
Goal Kickers: J. Donaldson, P. Fitzgerald, C. Gaylard, S. Harvey, B. Fennell
Best Players: N. Riddle, J. Kennedy, J. Donaldson, B. Marshall, N. Carter, M. Dennis
