Great Flinders football
Grand Final
A Grade, Ramblers def Cougars 73-32
IT was a special day for the large crowd that gathered at Cummins for the Great Flinders Football League's 100th grand final.
The two local teams, Cougars and Ramblers, faced off and pride was on the line as both clubs were keen to have their name on the shield in the league's 100th year.
Conditions were fine and sunny and Ramblers captain Scott Blacker won the toss and elected to kick north giving Ramblers first use of the blustery breeze.
The experienced James Minhard faced off against Cougars youngster Ethan Kenny, who had been in good form in recent weeks in the ruck.
The opening minutes were the usual high intensity football you expect in a grand final.
Eventually Moroney kicked long to the goal square where he found Hazelgrove unattended, who kicked the opening goal for Cougars.
Ramblers were into attack with Zac Richardson getting touches up forward along with Scott Blacker and Simon Pedler.
Ramblers squandered several chances to score and were made to pay when Cougars attacked through Rodda and Cory Turnbull who passed to Moroney, who fumbled but recovered to kick Cougars' second.
The large crowd were excited at the prospect of Cougars taking the game up to Ramblers but their excitement was short lived as Ramblers kicked four unanswered goals in the remainder of the quarter.
The first to George Pedler who received a free for a high tackle 15 metres out, two to Simon Pedler and one to Parker.
At quarter time Ramblers led 5-3 to 2-2.
Ramblers threw the experienced Simon Pedler loose in defence to try to nullify Cougars' use of the breeze in the second quarter and the tactic appeared to work as Cougars attacked repeatedly but failed to impact the scoreboard.
Cougars were made to pay when Blacker got the ball to McDonald in the goal square and Ramblers had their first into the wind.
The game was being played in Cougars' forward lines but flooding tactics from Ramblers prevented them from scoring.
Eventually Kenny received a free for in the back and kicked Cougars' first for the quarter shortly before half time.
One goal to Cougars with the breeze was not nearly enough and the Ramblers supporters were feeling confident at half time as their team led 6-4 to 3-4.
Ramblers were first out after the long bread and looking confident and with good reason.
Cougars had put Hazelgrove into the middle and were looking for a lift in intensity.
Cougars were attacking early in the third but a couple of missed opportunities cost them dearly as talented youngster Zac Richardson took several bounces down the eastern wing and kicked long to find Simon Pedler, who kicked truly for Ramblers' seventh.
Good work from Parker allowed Pedler to kick another shortly after.
Cougars got one back through Gregory who had been working hard and providing a target up forward for Cougars, but it was too little too late as Ramblers kicked two more for the half.
Disaster struck late in the third for Cougars when injury plagued Landon Gregory was stretchered from the ground with what looked like a serious ankle injury.
At three-quarter time the work was all ahead for Cougars who trailed 4-6 to 10-8.
Ramblers were able to shut the game down in the last quarter with both sides scoring only two points.
After the first half of the first quarter the game was played on Ramblers' terms with their ever reliable midfield of Minhard, Blacker, George Pedler and Mail Medallist Shawn Fitzgerald, along with Simon Pedler up forward and James Pedler across half back on top.
Throw in Parker, Holman and Richardson and it was obvious Cougars were going to have to be at the top of their game to compete as they struggled to find the form and intensity that they defeated Ramblers with two weeks ago.
Spectators would have been disappointed with the game that never reached the highs that they had hoped.
From early in the second quarter it was obvious that Ramblers' pressure was going to grind down the less experienced Cougars for yet another premiership for Ramblers.
Best for Ramblers were Scott Blacker, George Pedler, James Pedler and James Minhard.
For Cougars good players were harder to find but Rick Leonard and Jace Rodda were standouts with Ben Green and Landon Gregory also putting in good performances.
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