The Division 2 Reserves Grand Final at Lalor Reserve saw Whittlesea hold off a spirited Diamond Creek to secure a 12-point victory in a tough, physical contest.
Both sides left nothing in the tank, but the Eagles’ composure in front of goal and the brilliance of Kane Johnson proved decisive as they claimed premiership glory with a 9.8 (62) to 7.8 (50) triumph over the minor premiers.
From the opening bounce, the pressure was on. Neither team was willing to give an inch, with tackles sticking and every possession contested.
The first breakthrough came after a Diamond Creek turnover at the top of the 50, gifting Mitch Taplin the opening shot on goal. He made no mistake, slotting the first major of the game for Whittlesea.
The Eagles quickly added another when Brent Toll snapped truly from close range, giving them an early two-goal buffer.
Diamond Creek steadied, and after forcing turnovers inside their forward half, Ethan Farquhar nailed their first to cut the margin to one straight kick.
The second quarter saw Whittlesea strike early again, with a holding-the-ball free kick in attack handing Johnson his first goal. Despite that setback, Diamond Creek began to take control of territory, locking the ball in their forward half.
Tom Baird and Ryan Donaldson drove them forward, but missed chances kept the Creekers from capitalising. Finally, after sustained pressure, Aaron Hay converted to put them in front late in the term.
Just when it looked like they might take momentum into the sheds, Johnson produced a moment of class to set up Max Dyson, who goaled on the stroke of half-time. At the main break, Whittlesea led by just the three points.
The Eagles made their move in the third. A costly turnover deep in Diamond Creek’s defence allowed Harry Beattie to snap truly, sparking a run of goals.
Jacob Bedrac responded with a set shot for the Creekers, but Whittlesea surged again, with Kane Johnson stepping around his opponent and drilling his second, stretching the lead to 18 points.
Their defensive structures were holding firm, repelling Diamond Creek’s forward entries, and at the final change the Eagles had opened a commanding 19-point advantage.
Diamond Creek weren’t done yet. The Creekers struck first in the final term, with Joshua Robertson capitalising on a Whittlesea mistake to reduce the margin to just seven points.
The game was alive, and the Creekers began to surge with Ryan Pingree kicking truly soon after. But every time they challenged, Whittlesea had an answer.
Corey Avola steadied the ship with a composed finish, before Taplin iced the game with his second from a tight angle after winning a free kick.
In the end, Whittlesea held firm to claim a deserved victory. Kane Johnson was outstanding all afternoon, his two goals and midfield dominance earning him best-on-ground honours.
The Eagles’ ability to take their chances when it mattered proved the difference, while Diamond Creek were left ruing missed opportunities in front of goal during their periods of control.
For Whittlesea, the win capped off a season of resilience and consistency, delivering premiership success in front of a raucous crowd. For Diamond Creek, there was pride in the fightback but disappointment in falling just short on the biggest stage.
