On a radiant afternoon at Deakin Reserve the Goulburn Murray Junior League season culminated in grand final grandeur on Sunday.
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The vibes were high, conditions perfect and football immaculate as the region’s future stars ran out on the biggest day on the junior calendar.
The afternoon began with an absolute smorgasbord of goals in the under-16 division two final between Seymour and Shepparton United.
Lions forward Heath Lane, nicknamed ‘‘Heater’’, was running hot from the get-go as he kicked four goals, while Rory Kennedy converted from just outside the goal square to make it 30-1.
United’s Archer Hueston capitalised on a scramble, ripping it over the shoulder just before the quarter-time siren.
The Demons’ goal was under assault by waves of Seymour pressure throughout the second term, though Zane Chalcraft managed to peg one back in between four Seymour majors.
But Lane’s cloak and dagger act had not finished.
It was just getting started.
Everything the diminutive forward conjured turned to gold — or, goals rather — with three more arriving out of thin air in the third term, while Chalfcraft, Blake Sofra and Leeam Scouller kept it from being a cricket score for United.
Lane had the last say in the game as his set shot sailed through the sticks as the siren went, his slew of goals equating to half of the side’s tally, as Seymour ran out an 18.10 (118) to 7.6 (28) winner.
“I can’t fault the boys, they know how to play their game and they did it from the start,” Lions coach Samantha Heron said.
“I was pretty confident at half-time that they could get the job done and run it out, so I’m very proud of them.
“Sometimes in footy when you’re in front by a lot, you get a bit selfish as a player, but today I think they all played so well as a team and that’s why we kicked 18 goals.”
Josh Porter, Melvic Pambai, Dallas Ornsby and Trigher Hill were some of Seymour’s standouts in the win, however, best-afield honours went to Kennedy.
He was stoked to complete the season undefeated, wrapped up in the enormity of what he and his mates had achieved.
“It was a good start early, they sort of fought back in the second in the third and then we just pushed through at the end and got the W,” he said.
“Sam, our new coach, just coming in and clutching up — we couldn’t have done it without her.
“Getting the premiership and not even losing a game all season was just grouse.”
For United, Chalfcraft (two goals) and Sofra were among the stars for the losing side.
Grand final glory: The Seymour 13 and under netball side.
The Under 16s were not the only Seymour side to claim a flag on Sunday as the 13 and under netball side clinched grand final glory by a point.
The Lions sought a perfect season when they took on the Alexandra Rebels in the decider.
The Lions had pounced in their previous two meetings with Alexandra this season, but the final was the closest affair between the two sides.
As the whistle blew at the end of the match, Seymour had clawed to a 34-33 victory over the Rebels to maintain their 100 per cent win record and, more importantly, claim the flag.
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