Greensborough’s terrific season in the 2023 Marbuilt Under 19.5 Division 1 competition culminated with a premiership, after a strong 64-point victory over Eltham in the Grand Final at Preston City Oval.
The first half of the match was riddled with two contrasting styles of football that embodied a showdown featuring the minor premiers going up against a red-hot Eltham side. However, the Boro would be the ones to burst through the gates and run away with a substantial lead that kept their path clear to claim their 16.12 (108) to 6.8 (44) triumph.
Brody Glenn’s composure with ball in hand was key to driving his side forward on multiple occasions, with his efforts around the ground seeing him receive the best on ground medallion.
It allowed Logan Daniltchenko to put on a goal-kicking clinic up forward, with each of his five goals becoming crucial to building up the Boro momentum.
Martin Fitzgerald provided an outstanding performance through his key entries up forward that resulted in many goals, alongside Will McFawn who was impressive also.
For the Panthers, Oscar Berry became the main standout thanks to his explosive clearances that were able to spark the occasional wave of momentum.
Harry Fereday would shine as a staple of stability when weathering the storm of an overwhelming attack, with Taj Andretta and Aviela Choka joining as their side’s better players on the day through their ability to constantly secure possessions.
The Boro would make the first impression on the scoreboard after an entry inside 50 from Martin Fitzgerald found the hands of Logan Daniltchenko, who truly slotted his first goal of the game.
But Eltham would be quick to respond, with a major from Samuel Tyrrell inside the goal square evening the game back up.
Though once Greensborough took back possession, they would quickly punish the scattered defence through a passage of kicks that ended with a run in for goal by Brody Glenn to take back the lead.
But with only seconds until the siren sounded, Oscar Berry lined up from 40-metres out and slotted a major through to level the scores again going into the second term.
The next quarter would pick up similar to where the last one ended, thanks to a Harry Downes shepherd that made space for Tyrrell’s second goal of the game.
However, the Boro would begin to take the Grand Final into their own hands, with a major from Jesse Moloney in set shot fashion not just snatching back the lead, but also momentum of the contest.
More goals would hit the scoreboard as a result, after Daniltchenko and Jesse Lawler each lined up to boot goals that stretched the Boro advantage out to 18 points.
Austin Dillon finished off the first half with a massive major on the run from 50-metres out, that put the minor premiers up by 25 points at the main break.
More of the same occurred in the third term, as Greensborough were playing at a pace that blew past the Eltham pressure and allowed the Boro to impose their will on possessions which lead to more chances at extending the lead.
Daniltchenko rose up for mark that set him up to slot home another major, while Ashton Togni kicked a goal in similar fashion to push the margin to 40 points.
The Panthers would find the middle of the big sticks through a kick from Thomas Neale, which kept his side within a five-goal reach of the lead.
But the Boro were quick to reply with goals from Daniltchenko, Togni and Will Phelan, all which put them in the box seat to finish the match as premiers by three quarter time as they led by 53 points.
Fatigue looked to finally be setting in during the final term, but it didn’t stop the leading side piling on more goals. Joshua Manuell and Tom Phillips would hit the scoreboard for the first time in the match before Daniltchenko made it a fifth goal in the Grand Final, equalling his season high.
Eltham managed to grab some constellation goals late in the piece, but it would be Phillips’ second major, as the final siren sounded, that solidified the Boro’s 64-point win and kicked off their celebrations.
