East Geelong premiers after amazing finish

Seemingly down and out trailing by 13 points late in the final term in a low scoring game, Sam Purdy goaled just before an East behind put the margin to within a straight kick.

Then Andrew Steele kicked his second to tie the scores with more than 24 minutes gone on the clock.

There was ample time for either side to score next, but both defences repelled every foray forward.

Somehow Steele found ample space on the half-forward line with 31 minutes gone in the term and it was now or never.

He took a bounce and steadied and nine times out of 10 he would have easily slotted it through, but it drifted wide for a behind.

The Centurions knew they had to get the ball forward quickly, but they had no time. The siren sounded just seconds after the kick-in and East Geelong had won by a point.

Steele was judged best afield and booted 2.5 for the afternoon, with that final behind the most precious of his footy journey.

Eagles coach Ned Aulsebrook paid tribute to his opponents after the game.

“We have been where you are right now, and it does feel like a lonely place, but you guys are a strong club, and, as I said to a few of the boys after the game, just make sure you stick together this weekend, and you’ll be back,” he said.

Aulsebrook, in his third year as coach, said it was a “humbling” experience.

“It’s a humbling experience being up here, and speaking on behalf of a club that has welcomed a lot of us in over the last few years, and there’s been a lot of people that have been doing a lot of work for a long time to get to where we are right now,” he said. 

“There are 22 that play today, but it takes a squad to get here in a club. So we’ll make sure that we acknowledge those people in the coming days, but for everyone that does a power work, it does not go unnoticed, so thank you very much.”

GEELONG & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE 

Grand finals 

St Albans Reserve, Saturday 12 September 

Seniors

East Geelong 2.3(15), 5.5(35), 6.9(45), 8.11(59)

Werribee Centrals 3.5(23), 5.8(38), 8.8(56), 8.10(58)

Goals: East Geelong – S. Purdy 2, A. Steele 2, Z. Smith, C. Ezard, J. Ollis, B. Mulvahil. Werribee Centrals – C. Saliba 2, K. Kur, B. Houlihan, C. Linehan-Cunningham, B. Linehan-Cunningham, B. Carlton, D. Chesterman.

Best: East Geelong – A. Steele, J. Fanning, B. Crombie, S. Purdy, W. Hough, B. Flintoff. Werribee Centrals – C. Linehan-Cunningham, D. Chesterman, T. Camilleri, M. Murdock, J. Sutton, H. Kilby.

Reserves

Belmont Lions 5.3(33), 8.4(52), 11.10(76), 14.14(98)

Bell Post Hill 1.1(7), 3.1(19), 4.3(27), 6.5(41)

Goals: Belmont Lions – S. Jones 5, J. Stapleton 2, B. Trevorrow 2, D. Evans, L. MacDonald, J. Reeves. Bell Post Hill – T. Edwards 2, W. Vassilou, T. Stone, L. Meyrich, N. Bartolo.

Best: Belmont Lions – S. Jones, J. Reeves, B. Trevorrow, C. Steel, B. Vermeulen, A. Hann. Bell Post Hill – Sam Harmer, L. Verschur, H. Martin, T. Edwards, W. Vassiliou, H. McIntyre.

Under 18 Division 3

Modewarre 1.3(9), 5.6(36), 6.10(46), 9.13(67)

Ocean Grove 2.0(12), 2.1(13), 5.2(32), 5.2(32)

Goals: Modewarre – N. Simpson 2, J. Chislett 2, S. McCartney, C. Thomas, A. Smart, D. Parigi. Ocean Grove – X. Kiddle 2, C. Cowley, C. Rae, M. McKnight.

Best: Ocean Grove – L. Staehr, X. Kiddle, S. Anstis, N. Brooks, J. Anderson, B. Greenfield.