NYAH-Nyah West United ended the reign of Central Murray powerhouse Kerang in dramatic fashion in Saturday’s grand final, crushing the Blues by 54 points.
The Demons held the usually unflappable Kerang goalless in the first half, paving the way for raucous red and blue supporters to celebrate their first premiership in 23 years.
After producing a match-winning six goal haul seven days earlier against the Mallee Eagles in the preliminary final, young gun Ethan Curran further entrenched himself in Demons folklore by claiming the best on ground medal in another impressive display.
Curran joins Jason Cockatoo and his Bendigo Pioneers coach Danny O’Bree as the only NNW United players to achieve the feat.
It was an assertive display from NNW United, who controlled the match from the opening minutes with their pressure around the contest and attack on the ball helping them set up the 15.16 (106) to 7.10 (52) victory.
As impressive as the Demons were, the Blues were in equal parts disappointing, especially in the first half when they were left flat footed and second to the ball despite coming in fresh after last Saturday’s bye.
Kerang had no answer for NNW United’s outside speed, with the Demons not only winning the ball at the contest but using it better on the spread than their more experienced counterparts.
The opening 30 minutes was quite simply one way traffic, with NNW United having 10 scoring shots, kicking 4.6, with a 17 to five inside 50 count confirming just how in control the Demons were in the opening quarter.
Kerang fell down across half forward on the few occasions they went forward, with their onballers bombing the ball into attack, but straight into the hands of NNW United’s well organised back six.
That theme continued in the second term, with the Blues wasting several strong forward half entries by poor disposal or decision making with their final kick into attack.
To compound their woes, when they did have an opportunity to score, they missed, ending the first half with seven straight behinds to NNW United’s 8.8 (56).
A Brett Kennedy yellow card late in the term didn’t help Kerang’s cause, with the lively forward just beginning to get into the game before being sent from the field.
At the other end, NNW United full-forward Brandyn Grenfell was proving to be a handful, kicking three consecutive goals just before half time to help set up what proved to be a match winning lead.
Kerang’s first goal came early in the third term thanks to a long running goal from captain Josh Nitschke and when Nick Lang marked and kicked a goal mid-way through the third quarter to reduce the margin to 37 points, it appeared as though another famous Kerang third quarter could be in the offering.
But as they had done all day, NNW United responded, with Max Thompson kicking his second of three goals minutes later to help relax the nerves of the red and blue army.
Although Kerang’s midfield began finding plenty of the ball and started to get on top around the contest, they continued to blast the ball inside 50 and straight into the hands of Joel Walsh, Jaydyn Stirling, Corey Daniels and Joel Campbell, who were proving to be an impassable force.
Zach Threadgold was another important component in NNW United’s back six having been tasked with the job of quelling Kennedy, with the Demons defender keeping the dangerous Blues forward goalless for the first three quarters.
Despite trailing by 46 points at the final break, Kerang refused to concede, with Marty Kelly, Sam Heavyside and Jesse Clark trying their hardest to drag the Blues back into the contest, along with Lachlan Ross who was a clear standout for Kerang in defence all afternoon.
The Demons had all the answers however, with every Kerang run on met with a NNW United response in an entertaining final quarter as the match opened up.
On a day when Kerang’s stars were largely below their best, the Demons had many winners, including Jordan Iudica, who despite coming into the match under an injury cloud was instrumental in the first half, along with Ethan Saville, Nick O’Neill, Riley Daniels and Blake Larkings, who had a competitive duel with Blues ruckman Nick Lang all afternoon.
